Saucer 1725 - 1740

This monochrome saucer was created by the Vienna manufactory, but its date is unknown. The scene is inspired by the Chinoiserie style, which gained traction during the 17th and 18th centuries through increased trade with East Asia. This artistic movement often romanticized an imaginary vision of China, fueled by limited knowledge and Western fantasies. Here, we can see an attempt to depict Chinese figures. The artist exoticizes them through the common trope of leisure, with the figure on the stool leisurely picking leaves from a tree, while another figure holds the stool. These illustrations reinforce imperialist ideologies and reflect power dynamics of the time. Western artists and audiences found pleasure in these scenes, emphasizing the dominance of European cultures. What do you feel when looking at the cultural appropriation represented here?