Plate (part of a set) 1759 - 1793

This tin-glazed earthenware plate, by De Porceleyne Bijl, presents a scene rendered in a limited palette of blues and whites. The circular form contains a pastoral vignette, bordered by stylized foliage, which evokes a sense of bucolic calm. The composition arranges human figures and animals engaged in sheepshearing across a subtly implied landscape, with buildings in the background. The artist’s application of blue varies in intensity, creating depth and texture. Linear strokes define the forms, giving shape to the figures and emphasizing the contrast between light and shadow. The plate’s semiotic structure suggests a reading beyond mere pastoral representation. The depiction of labor, set within the domestic sphere of the plate, implies a negotiation of labor and leisure. This piece challenges fixed interpretations, inviting us to consider the values and social codes embedded in its simple, agrarian scene.