Design for Two Urns 1765 - 1795

This graphite on off-white paper presents two urn designs. The designs show urns were more than utilitarian objects; they were canvases that embodied cultural values and societal ideals. The urn on the right of the image shows a shift in tone. Here cherubic figures are sculpted in relief on its surface and winged female heads function as handles. Representations of idealized figures such as this, often reflect society's views on beauty, morality, and the roles of individuals within the social structure. Do these angelic figures promote a traditional narrative or do they develop alternative narratives? Consider the historical context in which these urns might have been produced, and how gender, class, and societal expectations may have influenced their design and function. The emotion lies in how we decode the symbolic language embedded in these designs.