José den Hartog

Ceramicist

©Saravd Borg photography

©Piet Gispen Photography

©José den Hartog

Ceramics as a canvas for Fine art

Natural history and textiles are José's muse
Her ceramic murals are in demand
A book character’s fearlessness was her example

Rather than using paper or canvas to apply her art, José den Hartog decorates ceramic tiles, plates and vases, producing unique treasures for the home, working on a philosophy that everyday objects that have been made with love highly improve quality of life. In her studio, she is surrounded by books and decorative objects, artefacts from the natural world, creating her own cabinet of curiosities – and ultimately inspiration for her one-off designs. Commissions are plentiful, such as ceramic murals for kitchens, bathrooms, and fireplaces. Her designs are infused with elements from the natural world, often carried out in a whimsical style and a contemporary twist, bringing the past and present elements together to form artworks that are not only enjoyed today, but will continue to be treasured by future generations.

Interview

©Piet Gispen Photography

©Piet Gispen Photography

Do you remember when you first thought of picking up this craft?: I picked it up years after finishing art school in the same way that I picked up several other techniques that interested me at first. Only later I realised that this was the real thing for me, and I had to drop all the others. I was inspired in my childhood by a book character – Pippi Longstocking – because she thought she could do things without experience: just start and try.
What was the first commission you received?: The first one I did was a large mural, it was for a wine cellar in a private house. The owner had seen my tiles in the gallery where I had recently held an exhibition, and he invited me to design a custom-made wall.
Did you master any specific techniques?: Every technique needed to craft a handmade tile mural has to be mastered: from shaping, mould-making and designing, to preparing underglaze, painting and then glazing. Besides this, I have been known to use wood or linoleum cutting, and the techniques of etching, screen-printing and monoprint.
What are your sources of inspiration?: Books, books, books as well as prints, engravings, traditional ceramics, textiles, patterns, natural history, manuals and scientific illustrations. Inspiration can come from many things such as a stone that has been removed from the pavement where the grass starts to grow, or a dream.

José den Hartog is an expert artisan: she began her career in 1997 and she started teaching in 2021