Bokaal met een boslandschap met herten c. 1850

This is a clear glass goblet etched with a forest landscape and deer, made by an anonymous artist. While the maker is unknown, the fine craftsmanship speaks to a tradition of glassmaking deeply embedded in European culture. The forest scene, complete with deer, evokes a sense of aristocratic leisure. Historically, hunting was a privilege of the nobility, symbolizing power and dominion over nature. The choice to depict such a scene on a drinking vessel subtly reinforces the social hierarchy. The clear glass itself would have been a luxury item, signifying wealth. Consider the act of raising such a glass, the light catching the delicate etching, casting shadows. The landscape becomes a backdrop to the imbiber, momentarily transporting them to the hunt, and solidifying their place in a world of privilege. This goblet encapsulates the ideals and realities of a society stratified by class and status. Its beauty is inseparable from the complex social dynamics of its time.