Vase

Semke, Hein1940/1960

Details

Title: Vase
Creator: Semke, Hein
Creator Lifespan: 1899/1995
Creator Gender: Male
Date: 1940/1960
Technique/Material: Polychromed faience
Physical Dimensions: w24 x h39 cm (Entire)
Exhibition: Caramulo, Portugal
Donated by:: Sociedade do Caramulo
Description: A German citizen who had settled in Portugal in 1932, Hein Semke brought to Portuguese sculpture a marginal dimension of expressionistic features, of a mystical or euphoric nature. Besides sculpture, Semke also made a decisive contribution to the renewal of the art of ceramics in our country, following temporarily different paths from those opened up by Jorge Barradas around 1945. In contrast to the gracious decorative style of Barradas, Semke’s ceramic production made use of a language of “crude sincerity”, to use the words of José-Augusto França. This piece highlights such an assertion: a vase with a modern shape, structurally embellished only by two grooves, onto which has been placed a somewhat primitivist polychrome decoration, which nonetheless produces an excellent decorative effect. The enamelled green base is followed by a crimson bilge decorated with pointed gores that mark the edges of a yellow reserve. Onto this, some abstract lilac forms have been delineated and the whole piece is surmounted by a green patch that is allowed to trickle onto the reserve. In this way, the piece’s decorative expressiveness is greatly highlighted by the remarkable contrasts in colour.
Type: Faience
Rights: Museu do Caramulo

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