Vase 1881

This vase, now residing at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, was crafted by John Bennett, a British artist who lived between 1840 and 1907. Bennett was one of many artists of the time responding to the Arts and Crafts movement, which championed handcraftsmanship over industrial production in response to the perceived alienation caused by industrial capitalism. The vase, adorned with a floral motif against a blue ground, embodies the movement's aesthetic. There’s a sense of the human touch, from the brushstrokes to the slightly irregular shape, which offers a warm contrast to mass-produced items. As Bennett noted, his intention was to revive the art of pottery-making and create objects that were both beautiful and useful. However, the movement has been critiqued for its narrow scope which often failed to address issues of class, race, and gender equality within the labor force, which reminds us that while this vase embodies aesthetic ideals, it also stands as a testament to a complex set of social and cultural values of the period.