Round dish with moss and fish 1860 - 1893

This is a round earthenware dish with moss and fish, made by José Francisco de Sousa, sometime before his death in 1893. It emerges from a late 19th century context where there was a fascination with naturalism, and it might strike us as a bit strange today. Sousa was Portuguese, and this plate, likely made for display rather than use, vibrates with the historical and cultural tensions of a country caught between tradition and modernity. The detailed rendering of the fish and moss reflects an interest in scientific observation, yet the arrangement is undeniably theatrical. Are the fish dead or alive? The artist's early death at only 33 years old, adds a layer of pathos. One wonders about his ambitions, his struggles, and what he might have created had he lived longer. The piece is both a celebration of the natural world, and an assertion of Portugal's artistic prowess. It invites us to reflect on the complex relationship between humans and nature, and on the fleeting nature of existence.