Plate with a portrait of Petrus de Wolff c. 1725 - 1749

This is a decorative plate featuring a portrait of Petrus de Wolff, created anonymously during a time of burgeoning global trade. This object reflects the complexities of identity and representation in the colonial era, where porcelain became a coveted commodity, often adorned with images intended to capture or perhaps construct identities. Petrus de Wolff is portrayed in what seems to be an idealized rural setting with a dog. What does it mean to be memorialized on a plate intended for display or use? The plate, a fusion of Eastern craft and Western portraiture, embodies an intersection of cultures and desires. It prompts us to consider how identity is shaped by both personal narrative and broader cultural forces. The emotional resonance of the plate lies in its quiet assertion of individuality within a world of shifting cultural landscapes, inviting us to reflect on our own identities within similar webs of influence.