Drie gedecoreerde drinkglazen c. 1865 - 1900

Editor: Here we have a photograph titled "Drie gedecoreerde drinkglazen," or "Three Decorated Drinking Glasses" by Laurens Lodewijk Kleijn, dating from around 1865 to 1900. They are glass, of course, and their formality comes across immediately, yet they are captured so casually in this picture. How do you approach a work like this? Curator: This piece, presented through the cool objectivity of the photographic medium, invites us to consider the glasses themselves. The play of light across their surfaces emphasizes their transparency, their material essence. Do you observe how the etching catches the light, defining the forms and ornamentation? Editor: Yes, the crests and what look like mythical creatures become visible. Are you suggesting we ignore the historical significance? Curator: Not ignore, but rather initially bracket it. By focusing on the formal relationships—the balance of shapes, the texture created by the etching, the rhythm of the stems—we begin to understand the aesthetic logic of the composition. Consider the contrast between the solid form of the central lidded glass and the more open, extended shapes of the goblets. What does that visual variation suggest to you about their function, or perhaps about the artist's intention? Editor: Perhaps the central glass was more ceremonial? It definitely feels different from the others, more compact. Curator: Precisely. It invites a more introspective experience. And, the symmetry of the flanking glasses contributes to an overall sense of order, wouldn't you agree? Editor: Absolutely. I had been thinking about the historical context of fine glassmaking, but your focus on the elements like symmetry is helping me see the construction in a new light. Curator: And by acknowledging the interplay between light and shadow we move towards interpreting it ourselves. Each element has a purpose in making a strong formal artistic statement.