Platter with peonies 1866 - 1867

Editor: So, this is Félix Bracquemond’s “Platter with Peonies,” made around 1866 or 1867. It's a ceramic piece, a drawing or print transferred onto the ceramic surface. What strikes me is the contrast between the delicate floral design and, well, the bug and snail! What do you make of that contrast? Curator: It’s fascinating, isn’t it? Think about the social context: mid-19th century France, a burgeoning interest in Japonisme. Bracquemond was a key figure in popularizing Japanese art. How might that inform the imagery here, do you think? Editor: I see a connection! Japanese prints often depict nature, and the peonies definitely feel like that. But the placement of the insects feels a bit…unexpected compared to what I think of traditional botanical illustrations. Curator: Precisely! Consider how these platters were received. Were they seen as decorative objects, elevated art, or something in between? The "imperfect" inclusion of those creatures might have challenged the established hierarchy of art, subtly questioning what was deemed worthy of artistic representation. Do you think this plate may have helped blur those lines? Editor: Absolutely, I now see that the very act of placing these common creatures onto what could have been merely functional tableware, disrupted artistic conventions, especially with japonisme trending and introducing new visual languages. It's as if the plate challenges us to find beauty in the mundane, even on something as commonplace as a platter. Curator: Exactly! This plate demonstrates the period’s experimentation and changing values. The plate, and Bracquemond's other work, invite a dialogue about art's function and purpose in a rapidly evolving world. Thanks for the fascinating discussion. Editor: Thanks for enlightening me. Now I appreciate how subversive something seemingly as simple as a platter can be!