Plate 1935 - 1942

This is Samuel Faigin’s Plate, and it’s most likely made with watercolor on paper. The artist works in an almost illustrative style that feels connected to folk art. I like the way the artist has allowed the paint to almost float on the surface, particularly in the pale washes of color that form the landscape. Notice how the red rim of the plate is ever so slightly uneven, giving it a handmade quality. The various figures and landscape elements are presented in a flattened, almost naïve perspective. It reminds me of certain kinds of outsider art, where the artist is driven by an internal vision and less concerned with traditional artistic conventions. I think of someone like Henry Darger, who created epic, intensely personal works of art. Ultimately, this plate resists any fixed meaning, instead offering us a space for contemplation and personal reflection.