Plate 1935 - 1942

This watercolor of a plate with butterfly and floral motif was created by an anonymous artist. Though we don't know the artist's identity, the work itself offers a glimpse into broader cultural dialogues around art, craft, and gender. Historically, decorative arts like ceramics were often relegated to the realm of 'craft,' a term carrying different weight than 'fine art.' These categories often reflected gendered divisions, with women's artistic labor frequently associated with craft and domesticity. The butterfly motif could be seen as a traditional emblem of transformation, but also speaks to the delicate beauty often associated with feminine aesthetics. This plate challenges us to reconsider these hierarchies. Is it merely decorative, or does it function as a form of expression? In its delicate rendering and careful composition, the plate invites us to reflect on the value we assign to different forms of artistic labor and their connection to identity.