Plate depicting a lady with parasol 1729 - 1742

Cornelis Pronk designed this plate with a lady and parasol, probably around the 1730s, for production in China and export to Europe. It shows us the entangled economic and cultural networks of the early modern world. The blue-and-white porcelain refers to a long history of Chinese ceramics, but the scene is pure fantasy. European consumers had a taste for what they imagined as the exotic culture of the East, and artists like Pronk were happy to supply it. The elite status of the woman, her attendant, and their leisurely stroll through a garden landscape suggests a commentary on social class. The surrounding border with the repeated image of a European merchant vessel, is a celebration of the Dutch East India Company. The design comes from Europe, but its production depended on the exploitation of Chinese labor, and the circulation of the finished product reinforced Western power. By studying company records, trade statistics, and the biographies of artists and merchants, we can begin to understand the complex relationships that shaped this seemingly simple plate.