Ontwerp voor kommetje 1851 - 1930

Theo Colenbrander made this sketch for a small bowl in pencil on paper. Colenbrander was at the forefront of design reform in the Netherlands at the turn of the twentieth century. His designs were influenced by the Arts and Crafts movement and Japonisme. The design reflects the tension between industrial production and the desire for individual expression characteristic of the applied arts at this time. Note the inscription ‘Painted all around - Bloembacks’ which suggests that the design incorporates a floral pattern to be applied to the bowl's surface. To understand Colenbrander's context, we can look at exhibition catalogs, design journals, and the records of the Rozenburg factory where he worked. Such materials reveal the social networks and institutional frameworks that shaped artistic production. Ultimately, this bowl design reflects the complex interplay between art, industry, and the changing tastes of the Dutch middle class.