Cup Plate c. 1936

Roberta Elvis made this cup plate sometime in the late 19th or early 20th century. At first glance, it’s easy to see this as a simple representation of maritime culture, a nostalgic image of ships sailing the seas. But let’s think more critically about the world in which Elvis was working. Consider the social conditions that gave rise to such an image, what it might be communicating and how it challenges or reaffirms institutional norms. The inclusion of a ship motif during this period conjures the growth of American industrialization, trade and westward expansion. It’s a reflection of the expansionist fervor that shaped American identity. To more fully interpret the artwork, historians might use trade records, maritime histories, and studies of consumer culture in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Art history reminds us that images are not neutral; they are powerful cultural artifacts embedded in specific historical contexts.