Kan van steengoed, plaat I 1827 - 1829

Charles Onghena made this print of a stoneware jug sometime in the 19th century. The detailed image gives us more than just an idea of the jug’s shape. It also evokes a whole world of decorative taste and design in Belgium at that time. The artist has taken pains to show off the jug's elaborate embellishments, and the play of forms and textures over its surface. This was a time when industrialization allowed for mass production, and there was a growing concern to preserve traditional crafts. Institutions such as design schools and museums emerged, aiming to elevate the quality of design in manufactured goods. The inclusion of the word “plate” in the title suggests that this image may have been part of a series intended to educate artisans. Historians can use sources like trade catalogs, design journals, and museum archives to understand the cultural context and the institutional forces at play in shaping both artistic production and public taste during this period.