Vase 1898

Caroline H. Rimmer created this vase from terracotta, but the exact date of its making is unknown. The classical figures on the vase invite us to consider the wider social and cultural context of its creation. The imagery on this vase is reminiscent of ancient Greek art, a style that was very fashionable in Europe and America in the late 19th century. The figures, draped in flowing robes, are arranged in a frieze-like composition around the vase and bring to mind a classical procession, myth, or ritual. The question we might ask is: why was it so fashionable to evoke the imagery of ancient Greece during this period? Was it simply a matter of aesthetic taste, or did it have something to do with the values and ideals that were associated with Greek culture, such as democracy, reason, and beauty? Art historians can turn to sources such as period journals, exhibition reviews, and artists' letters to better understand it. The meanings of art are always contingent on social and institutional context.