Stemless and leafless

She was folded into the rear corner, the one where the courtyard window and the china hutch meet.

May I use your eyes, she asked, holding out a small plate. What do you think of this painting here in the centre. I think the colour has been applied over the glaze.

The plate was a small, modified square, its corners docked and gently rounded. Along the edges were small flourishes, slate grey applied on bright white. I ran my fingers over them and detected a subtle relief.

No, she said. That was there from the beginning. I mean the flowers.

The flowers were simple petals in an assortment of ceruleans. The centres were rendered with dark dots, stemless and leafless. They floated across an invisible horizon. False colours on false forms. I ran my finger over them. I felt nothing of substance and said so.

It’s clear to me that someone painted these flowers over an existing, completed plate, she continued. At first I thought my eyes were playing a trick but I have my glasses on. I can see very clearly that this was a diversion. Someone added this. They weren’t content with what was there.

I said that I found it charming, especially for so little. She retreated to the corner.

I don’t care about the price. I’m just wondering who had the last word.