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Mosaic with Pax Christi symbol (mozaïek met Pax Christi symbool)

Anno Smith

About this artwork.

This wall mosaic clearly depicts the Pax Christi symbol and two boys with tools in their hands. The Pax Christi symbol stands for Christian education, the boys are indicative of the vocational primary school where students learned various crafts, such as carpentry, plumbing etc.

In the post-war period, ceramicist Anno Smith created hundreds of porch and facade pieces for the city of Groningen, intended for residential complexes, schools, shops and factories, among other things – it’s not for nothing that Smith is known as the “greatest decorator”. 

Smith mainly depicted everyday objects and scenes: fish, flowers, playing children and working craftspeople. By decorating the severe, strict and uniform architecture that is so typical of the post-war period with individually designed pieces, each building was afforded an identity of its own; an identity that also immediately marks these pieces as Smith’s. His clients also wanted cheerful performances that had to be understandable for the residents.

Location.

Heinsiusstraat 1 (schoolgebouw)

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Facts & Figures.

  • Design
    Anno Smith

  • District
    Korrewegwijk & De Hoogte

  • Art type
    Art in / on a building, Mosaic

  • Material
    Glazed terracotta

  • Dimensions
    h 2,00 x b 1,80 m