Theme & Variations Decorative Plate #361 (Face with Pansy in Mouth in Window) 

Curator: This ceramic plate is part of Fornasetti’s “Theme & Variations” series, specifically number 361, subtitled "Face with Pansy in Mouth in Window." Editor: My first impression? Eerily captivating. The face stares out from behind what looks like bars, a single pansy held delicately between her lips. The stark monochrome palette only adds to the sense of drama. Curator: The compositional choices are key here. The rigid geometry of the bars bisecting the soft curves of the face creates a compelling visual tension. Notice how the bars don't quite align perfectly; this intentional asymmetry adds a layer of complexity. Editor: Absolutely. And the pansy, held captive along with the woman’s expression, resonates with layers of symbolism. In Victorian flower language, pansies often represent thoughts, remembrance, even love tokens. But here, its presence feels almost stifled, hinting at repressed emotions or unspoken desires. Curator: Interesting. The graphic rendering of the face, through those finely-wrought lines, also produces something else, an inherent texture which is in opposition to the smooth flatness of the ceramic surface. Editor: I read it a little differently. This tension actually reinforces a narrative of interior versus exterior. What is presented, and what remains unseen, masked? This is heightened by that window framing, and her serene yet watchful eyes peering out from behind it all. Curator: One could further deconstruct this, through semiotics even, where the window acts as a signifier not of the exterior, but also a surface for presentation. In what ways do lines divide, but also invite the view within the sections created? Editor: And within each, the repetition of her gaze. She seems both vulnerable and incredibly powerful, almost like an icon or saint staring solemnly to her believers. The bars act as some barrier, between seer and believer perhaps. Curator: I find I see less narrative within the imagery and much more consideration of its composition and formal characteristics now that we've dissected its finer aspects. Editor: Perhaps in exploring both, we gain a fuller understanding of the cultural echoes it provokes as well as appreciating the skill in how it’s constructed.