“Empty Plates (2007) calls attention to the burden of people who struggle economically. Three collaged spoons spaced almost evenly in the background of the painting possibly suggests the number of people in a household. The emptiness of one sullen gray plate and its lack of any remaining crumbs reinforces a sense of scarcity. Stacked coins lining the rim of the plate suggest the household’s poverty. The equation on the right of the canvas also adds to the element of scarcity in this painting, as the question mark represents the question of whether the family has enough. Jansen has seamlessly used his mastery of brushstroke and collage techniques to create this work of art.”
