Shallow bowl with Beautiful Cassandra 1538

This is a ceramic shallow bowl depicting 'Beautiful Cassandra' by Vincenzo Andreoli, currently housed at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The bowl features a central portrait, framed by an azure sky dotted with stars. Note the contrasting textures: the smoothness of Cassandra's face against the rough glaze of the ceramic, and the matte finish of her dress against the gloss of the painted scrollwork. These create a tactile tension, inviting the viewer to consider the object's materiality. The composition relies on a circular format, mirroring the bowl's form, which is a structural echo that reinforces the artwork's self-contained nature. This piece destabilizes the traditional portrait by presenting it on a functional object. The semiotic implications of this choice disrupt the artwork's meaning. Is it high art or functional ware? The bowl challenges fixed categories of art and craft, blurring the lines between utility and aesthetics. Ultimately, the interplay between form and function in this piece creates a tension that invites contemplation. The bowl's aesthetic and utilitarian dimensions function as part of a broader cultural discourse challenging fixed notions about art.