Land - to the Working People 1919

Nathan Altman made this decorative plate, "Land - to the Working People," sometime in the early twentieth century using paint on porcelain. I love the way the design is so bold, but also the colors are quite gentle: that pale green with the brick red. There's a real sense of immediacy. You can feel the artist figuring it out as they go, especially in the slightly wonky lettering around the rim. The surface has a kind of matte finish, and you can see little imperfections in the paint, which makes it feel so human. The central image of the factory, framed by the diamond, is so dynamic, like an emblem. It makes me think a bit of Fernand Léger's paintings, with that same interest in industrial forms and bold, graphic compositions. Ultimately, though, the charm of the piece resides in its directness and simplicity. It celebrates a vision of progress with such optimism and clarity.