Deksel van terrine, beschilderd met vlinders en insecten c. 1778 - 1782

Editor: Here we have an earthenware terrine lid from Loosdrecht, painted sometime between 1778 and 1782. The artist decorated it with meticulously rendered butterflies and insects. I find the contrast between the refined insects and rustic glaze kind of charming. What captures your eye when you look at this piece? Curator: Well, it's more than charming, isn't it? It’s a snapshot of the 18th-century’s obsession with the natural world. Imagine wealthy Europeans building extravagant gardens, filling them with exotic plants and obsessing over classifications. This terrine lid mirrors that, but in a much more intimate, domestic way. It’s as if the homeowner wants to bring a touch of the garden, or maybe even the thrill of scientific discovery, right to the dinner table. The Rococo style, too, with its playful asymmetry, suits the whimsical nature of the insects. I wonder, do you think that Rococo style complements this particular object? Editor: I do see how the insects and the curving lines are related. So this was made to signal wealth and worldliness. What's the deal with earthenware instead of something like porcelain? Curator: Ah, an excellent question! Loosdrecht, while aspiring to compete with the porcelain giants, was really working within the means and resources they had. Earthenware allowed for more decorative freedom at a reasonable price, though with different aesthetic results than porcelain. It allowed a wider audience access to the latest fashion in art. Editor: That is interesting! It recontextualizes the class associations. I learned a lot about class and art, and how techniques and aspirations interplay. Curator: Exactly! It invites us to look closer, to think about how even everyday objects reflect our aspirations and our relationship with the world around us. What a curious piece!