Reclamefoto met serviezen en keukengerei van de firma C. Read & Co., Baltimore, Maryland 1920 - 1930

This advertisement photograph by Stadler Photographing Company pictures plates and bowls with a decorative floral design. The palette of pastels, soft blues, greens, pinks, and golds are delicately applied and the plates are meticulously organized. I can imagine the photographer carefully arranging these items in a studio, maybe in Baltimore, Maryland. Light would have been crucial to capture the subtle details of each piece. I imagine them tweaking the arrangement, each plate catching the light just so. I wonder about the conversation between the photographer and the client. Did they discuss what emotional response they wanted to evoke in potential buyers? The floral motifs on the plates are carefully designed, perhaps drawing inspiration from contemporary wallpaper or textile patterns. In a way, this photograph is a still life composition but with a very practical goal in mind. Just like a painter friend of mine who designs fabrics, they knew that their work would soon become a part of everyday life for many people. Artists continue to inspire one another's creativity across time, whether making plates, paintings, or photographs.