Charger with still life 1875 - 1885

This is a painted enamel charger with still life, made by François Laurin in France during the second half of the 19th century. Laurin was part of a lineage of Limoges enamellers, whose work experienced a revival in the 19th century. The still life genre had been around for centuries by this point. But in France it took on a renewed significance amid the country’s rapid industrialization. Artists turned to capturing everyday objects in close detail as a way of registering the changes in the world around them. Seen in this light, the plate itself embodies this tension. It revives a Renaissance technique but bears the image of a contemporary moment, when even simple foods are seen through the lens of industry and progress. As art historians, we can look to exhibition records and trade publications to understand the cultural context of this work. By doing so, we come to appreciate how its beauty is always tied to the world around it.