Plaque c. 1750 - 1780

Editor: This earthenware plaque, simply titled "Plaque" by an anonymous artist, dates from somewhere between 1750 and 1780. The figures give it a pastoral and romantic atmosphere, but there's also something quite naive about the rendering. It's charming. How do you see this piece? Curator: You know, when I look at this plaque, I’m instantly transported. Imagine this hanging in a cozy kitchen in the 1700s! It's got that beautiful Baroque flair. There's a real sense of playful opulence to it. I also see echoes of theatre in the way these figures are presented. It begs the question, are they acting out a scene? Or is this someone’s cheeky idea of what the simple life *should* look like? Editor: That's an interesting point, this might not be representative of reality... But, then why the genre painting reference? What would be the intention behind it? Curator: It is as though the painter created their own play. The woman seems to offer a taste of grapes to her counterpart. Are they in love? Could it simply be an observation? Are they a single person? This piece gives me food for thought, and the viewer is made to confront it. This piece is very baroque and elaborate. I find that this would be very cool to analyze, I wish it would say more than just "plaque"… Editor: I hadn't thought of the performance aspect! That reframes it entirely. It makes the "Plaque" name kind of ironic. Thanks for sharing that perspective! Curator: Absolutely! I learned a great deal as well!