Beker met een man in een 18e-eeuws kostuum c. 1880

This glass beaker, decorated with a man in 18th-century attire, was made by J. & L. Lobmeyr. Within the context of its production, this piece reflects the enduring fascination with the past, particularly the aristocratic elegance of the 18th century. The choice of subject matter invites us to consider the values and ideals that society associates with a bygone era of opulence. The figure is adorned with elaborate, colorful floral and scroll patterns that frame a man dressed in the fashion of the time. This raises questions about the politics of nostalgia and the ways in which historical periods are romanticized. In a world in which social hierarchies were visualized through fashion and design, this cup seems to long for a rigid and clearly defined social structure. Consider the emotional aspect of longing to drink from a vessel that conjures images of powdered wigs. The artwork serves as a lens through which to examine our relationship with history and the emotional attachments we form with the past.