Plate 1835 - 1855

This earthenware plate, made by J. and W. Ridgway in Cauldon, Stoke, presents a captivating landscape rendered in shades of blue. The composition is meticulously structured around concentric circles, framing a central scene that invites the eye to explore its intricate details. The interplay of line and form orchestrates a sense of depth and perspective. Note how the stylized floral patterns create a decorative border, contrasting with the illusionistic space of the central image. This juxtaposition sets up a tension between the flat surface of the plate and the three-dimensional scene it depicts. We can consider how the use of blue, with its varying intensities, affects our perception. The monochrome palette serves to unify the disparate elements of the design, while simultaneously flattening the image, drawing attention to the surface pattern. The circular format of the plate, in relation to the square, destabilizes our perception of space and representation. Art does not have one meaning. The plate's form and decorations are both aesthetic and part of a cultural dialogue on orientalism and representation.