Design for Three Vases 1765 - 1790

Editor: Here we have “Design for Three Vases,” a drawing likely made between 1765 and 1790 by an anonymous artist. They’ve presented these delicate, almost ethereal designs; you can almost feel the craftsman carefully considering the line and form. What do you see in this piece beyond its aesthetic appeal? Curator: I see a window into the complex world of 18th-century production and consumption. These aren't just beautiful designs; they are blueprints for objects intended for a specific market, likely the wealthy elite. The meticulous details speak to the value placed on artisanal skill and the control of material processes. How do these designs reflect the broader social structures of their time? Editor: I suppose I hadn’t thought about it in those terms. The vases, they seem like items for display, maybe…status symbols? Curator: Exactly. Consider the labor involved in producing these vases. From the extraction of raw materials to the molding, firing, and decoration, each step represents a concentration of effort and expertise. How does this image engage with that, particularly with it being a design? Editor: It highlights a disconnect, I think, between the artist’s concept and the realities of production, possibly obscuring the hands-on labor needed to produce something like that second, gilded vase? It brings up questions about the artist’s vision versus what's feasible in the workshop. Curator: Precisely. And note the variations in design – each vase reflects a different set of skills and material inputs. The varying "recipes" suggest a highly differentiated production system. This drawing showcases a carefully considered hierarchy of labor and material worth, doesn’t it? Editor: Yes, it really puts a different perspective on the object itself. I didn’t really think about all the factors that contribute to something we consider "art" now, particularly its role in reinforcing class structures at the time. Curator: Understanding the art involves understanding the larger framework. Now when we look at objects we might also try to consider that web of process and meaning as part of the design too!