Urn met deksel c. 1650

Editor: This is "Urn met deksel," an engraving by Georges Tournier from around 1650, housed in the Rijksmuseum. It depicts a baroque urn with a lid, incredibly detailed, but almost austere. How should we read this level of formality in rendering such a utilitarian object? Curator: It's fascinating to consider the implied politics within this domestic scene. Engravings like these were circulated amongst elite classes. Note the architectural elements of the urn – the almost masculine handles and the weighty lid – suggesting power, authority, even ownership of space and resources. What ideologies might be embedded in its design and function? Editor: So, more than just decorative, it becomes a symbol of the owner’s position within society? The almost militaristic form does have that "command and control" presence. Curator: Exactly! Consider, too, the Baroque style; its excess wasn’t simply about beauty, but also a demonstration of wealth, influence, and a very particular aesthetic taste. Are there other examples of artwork where utility marries a message? How do you see this reflected in, say, contemporary design and architecture? Editor: I think it challenges this idea that decorative arts are inherently less significant or somehow separate from displays of power. The engraving provides another avenue for considering the intersection of gender, class, and aesthetics. Curator: Precisely. This detailed depiction prompts us to investigate the less obvious ways objects participate in creating, confirming and sometimes resisting socio-economic and political power structures. It shows art having implications in more ways than expected. Editor: This engraving of an urn really expands the understanding of how everyday objects participate in creating our realities! Thank you for the insightful historical context and discussion, it has widened the lens on interpreting "decorative" art.