Fruitschaal, het plat met vruchten en noten in reliëf c. 1853 - 1867

This is a relief-decorated plate, attributed to N.A. Bosch. Although the exact date is unknown, the style evokes the 18th century, a period when decorative arts were integral to aristocratic life, reflecting societal status. The arrangement of fruit, nuts, and birds isn’t merely decorative. It speaks to themes of abundance and the natural world, which were often romanticized in art, while obscuring the labor and social inequalities inherent in their production. Consider the whiteness of the plate. In its monochrome, it might evoke a sense of purity, or perhaps the selective portrayal of wealth and privilege. The plate invites us to consider the complex layers of meaning embedded in seemingly simple, domestic objects.