De vrede van Versailles 1966

Here’s a plate made in Delft by De Porceleijne Fles, celebrating the Peace of Versailles. The mark-making is so simple, it's like a child's drawing, but with this incredible control that comes from the medium, with its long history, it's both folksy and quite precise. I love the way the cobalt blue sits on the white glaze, how the brushstrokes define the clouds, the sun's rays, even the commemorative text. It's all so direct, no fuss, no muss. Each mark feels inevitable. But it’s not just about the pretty blue and white; there’s something deeper. That sword, rising above the clouds, could be read as a symbol of hope. This plate reminds me a little of Picasso’s ceramics—that same directness, that same playful spirit. It's a reminder that art, in all its forms, is a conversation, a back-and-forth between artists and ideas. It’s not about having all the answers, but about asking the right questions.