Cup 1730 - 1745

This cup and saucer were made by the Meissen Manufactory in Germany. The monochromatic painting on the porcelain recalls the kind of picturesque landscapes that were popular in the 18th century. These landscapes, however, have a complicated institutional history. On the one hand, they speak to an emerging aesthetic appreciation of the natural world. Yet, these images are mediated through a distinctly European sensibility. Thinkers such as Rousseau were developing new theories about humanity's relationship to nature. At the same time, institutions, such as the porcelain manufactory, were defining taste and creating luxury goods for the elite. Consider how these images relate to the social and political context of the time. Were they simply decorative, or did they convey deeper meanings about power, wealth, and cultural identity? Examining archival sources such as factory records, design books, and period literature can shed light on the intentions of the artists and patrons who commissioned these pieces.