Plate 1904 - 1905

This is a porcelain plate by the Austrian artist Bruno Geyer, made sometime in the late 19th to early 20th century. In the center, a young woman with clasped hands gazes upward, framed by a decorative border of gold leaves against a rich blue ground. Her vulnerability is palpable, her youth idealized in the soft brushstrokes of her face. Geyer, working during a time of immense social change in Austria, presents a vision of femininity that both adheres to and subtly deviates from the era's norms. While the delicate features and contemplative pose speak to traditional representations of women as passive and pure, the directness of her gaze hints at a quiet strength, a subtle challenge to the prevailing patriarchal structures. This plate exists as both object and image, reflecting the complex negotiations of identity and representation at the turn of the century. It captures a moment of introspection.