Plate c. 1735

This plate was made by the Du Paquier Porcelain Manufactory in Vienna, Austria. Here, on a circular stage, the drama of the hunt unfolds in monochrome against the stark white porcelain. Note how the composition is divided into three distinct zones: the detailed border, the stark white background and the central scene of the dog and deer. The border acts as a frame, filled with ornate floral patterns and geometric motifs, creating a sense of aristocratic elegance. The central image—a hunting dog standing over its prey—introduces a raw, visceral energy, and a moment of life and death. Above, the cloud might seem to suggest divine oversight. The stark contrast between the plate’s decorative elements and the image of the hunt sets up a dialogue between civilization and nature. The precise lines and controlled forms speak to a desire to order the natural world, to bring its chaos under aesthetic control, yet we are still presented with an inescapable reality. It offers not just decoration, but a site for contemplating the complex relationship between humans and the natural world.