Oval basin with lizards, moths, and blue and purple background 1855 - 1865

Georges Pull crafted this oval basin with glazed earthenware sometime in the 19th century. Note the carefully rendered lizards, moths, and other creatures against a blue and purple background. The basin exemplifies the Victorian-era fascination with naturalism, and the embrace of scientific observation. It’s important to remember that Pull produced his work in France during a period of immense social and political change. The July Revolution of 1830, and the subsequent rise of the bourgeoisie, deeply impacted artistic production. Artists like Pull were increasingly commissioned to create decorative objects for the homes of the wealthy, reflecting both their refined taste and their scientific interests. This basin, with its detailed rendering of flora and fauna, would have been perfectly at home in a bourgeois interior. To fully appreciate Pull's achievement, we can consult period catalogues and design manuals. By examining these resources, we gain a deeper understanding of the social and institutional contexts that shaped his work and its reception. This helps us appreciate the ways in which art reflects, and sometimes challenges, the prevailing norms of its time.