Plate 1866 - 1875

Editor: This ceramic plate, titled simply "Plate," was created sometime between 1866 and 1875 by the French artist Félix Bracquemond, and is currently held at the Art Institute of Chicago. What strikes me immediately is the rather odd pairing of a lobster and a butterfly. How should we interpret this work? Curator: That's a brilliant starting point. Consider how seemingly disparate elements can unlock symbolic potential. The lobster, a creature of the sea, crawling along, evokes a certain primordial feeling, wouldn't you say? Then contrast that with the butterfly, an emblem of metamorphosis and the ephemeral. It almost seems as though these two figures create a dynamic, maybe even an oppositional tension on a single plane. What do these creatures evoke in you? Editor: That's insightful. The lobster does feel grounded and the butterfly light, so maybe it’s a visual representation of opposing forces… something fundamental. Why put them on a plate though? Curator: It makes us ask: is this meant to be purely decorative or is it something more? Bracquemond was a key figure in Japonisme, the French fascination with Japanese art. In Japanese art, everyday objects often hold symbolic weight. Is the lobster simply a striking design, or does it allude to transformation and adaptation within daily life? How does knowing it might have been part of a service for meals change the possible meaning for you? Editor: That really changes it! So, enjoying a meal becomes a meditation on change and the balance of opposing forces? That is such a cool contrast! Curator: Indeed. It is also worthwhile noticing the tension introduced by a very ‘European’ approach of single point perspective alongside an apparent asymmetry inspired by Japanese design and philosophy. The symbolism invites reflection. Editor: Thanks, I had no idea of the Japanese context for ceramics and everyday objects! Now I understand more of the intent behind it! Curator: Exactly! Symbolism allows a deeper experience beyond the purely aesthetic. I see something new each time, and I hope our listeners do, too.