Child's Porringer 1938

Jacob Gielen’s painted this child’s porringer with a soft, observant eye. The tones of rust and copper feel true, like he’s really looked at this thing. There's something so tender in how Gielens renders the worn surface of the bowl. It’s not just about illustrating an object, but about capturing the history of touch, the residue of use, and I think you can see this through the mark-making, especially in the bowl's interior, those little dabs and strokes, they build up this convincing surface. I’m fascinated by the way he handles the light, suggesting a sense of volume and depth with subtle shifts in color, this makes me think of Giorgio Morandi. It's like he's trying to find the soul of this simple, everyday object, you know? This isn't just a bowl, it's a vessel of memory. It becomes a symbol of childhood, care, and the passage of time. I think the way this piece treats a simple object is very beautiful.