Vaas van porselein, versierd in pâte-sur-pâte met bladeren en bloemen c. 1900

This porcelain vase is decorated in pâte-sur-pâte with leaves and flowers by Nils Erik Lundström. The delicacy of the porcelain medium speaks to a history deeply entwined with trade, cultural exchange, and the rise of industrial production. Consider the cultural context in which Lundström created this vase. What does it mean to adorn a vase with flowers? Perhaps it's a longing for nature amidst urbanization, or maybe it's about the feminized space of the domestic sphere. The pastel palette, the delicate rendering of flora – these elements speak to deeply ingrained societal associations with femininity and fragility. Lundström subverts tradition by using pâte-sur-pâte decoration; he invites us to consider how traditional forms are not static, but constantly evolving in response to the present. He offers a space to reflect on the intersection of art, nature, and gender.