Schotel met riviergezicht 1809 - 1814

This porcelain plate depicting a river view was crafted by the Koninklijke Porseleinfabriek Dommer & Co. The scene on the plate presents an idyllic view of rural life, carefully constructed for a particular audience. During the time it was made, there was a growing interest among the urban middle class in romanticized depictions of the countryside. Serving as a form of escapism from the realities of industrializing cities, these scenes evoked nostalgia for a simpler, perhaps imagined, past. Consider how class is subtly represented here. The lone figure, presumably a fisherman, is neatly dressed, suggesting a certain level of respectability. The artwork subtly reinforces the social hierarchies of the time while presenting a picturesque image of harmony between people and nature. This plate becomes not just a decorative object but a cultural artifact, reflecting the values and desires of its intended owners.