Vaas met pauwen en bladeren 1895 - 1904

Curator: Well, isn't this delightful? Before us stands a ceramic vase, "Vaas met pauwen en bladeren", or "Vase with Peacocks and Leaves". It's from the studios of Firma Wed. N.S.A. Brantjes en Co. sometime between 1895 and 1904, exhibiting those flamboyant Art Nouveau tendencies. Editor: My first thought? Enchanting. It's like a verdant dream, steeped in both elegance and slight melancholy. The greens are so dominant, offset beautifully by the pale yellow at the top… and then there's the peacock. A statement. Curator: The peacock is really the centerpiece. It dominates the ceramic with its elaborate plumage. And you are right; its placement amongst the greenery creates such a beautiful, complex interplay. I think this resonates with a specific period fascination. Editor: It is so interesting to me how peacock imagery cycles in and out of fashion, carrying with it centuries of layered symbolism – vanity, royalty, resurrection... depending on who is doing the interpreting and when. Here, amidst this art nouveau fantasy, is the symbol heightened, do you think, or softened? Curator: Softened, I think, to a degree. It certainly draws upon those classic associations, yet it also feels like a simple celebration of nature, a motif ever-present in Art Nouveau. The curving lines, the floral flourishes, it all melds together into a very self-aware art object, celebrating artifice as much as nature, don't you think? It almost feels more important to create beauty than accurately depict reality. Editor: Exactly! The conscious embrace of beauty, yes. You know, when I look closely, I see a bit of tension between the ceramic form itself – rather stout and grounded – and the ethereal nature of the peacock motif, or indeed the entire art nouveau approach that celebrates delicacy. Is there an internal drama at play, perhaps mirroring anxieties of the period? Curator: It's possible, and certainly these works have a decorative function, often disguising the anxieties of change bubbling underneath society at that time. At least this vase serves as a striking reminder of the shifting sands of taste and meaning and how a peacock could carry such a diverse cargo! Editor: Absolutely! A fascinating glimpse into the soul of a period. It leaves you pondering so much beyond the vase itself.