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

This black and white advertisement showcases the designs of the Stadler Photographing Company for C. Read & Co., Baltimore, Maryland. You know, it’s funny to think about a photograph being “painted” with light and shadow, just like we do with brushes and colors. I am really drawn to the repetition of forms. The delicate floral etchings almost jump out. I see the deep cuts in the glass, each one meticulously placed to catch the light. I imagine the artisans carefully crafting each piece, their hands guiding the tools with precision and care. Like the lines in a drawing, these cuts define shape and add depth. The sugar bowl looks like something Wayne Thiebaud might paint; the celery tray hints at what Lisa Yuskavage could create with glass. These functional objects are elevated to art through the lens, each reflecting light and shadow in a dance of form and function. What if we smashed them all up and started again?