Kop met riviergezicht 1809 - 1814

This is a delicate porcelain cup with a river view, created by Koninklijke Porseleinfabriek Dommer & Co. The composition invites us to consider the relationship between object and image. The cup's pure white porcelain provides a blank canvas, framed by a band of opulent gold at its rim and base. This gilding draws our eyes around its form. Upon this pristine surface, a quaint river scene is painted, bringing a picturesque landscape to an intimate, domestic scale. The cup transforms from a mere functional object into a miniature tableau. The river scene, with its cottage and trees reflected in the water, creates a sense of depth and calm that is juxtaposed with the cup's smooth, hard surface. The effect is one of containment and contrast. Consider how the interplay between the idealized landscape and the utilitarian object destabilizes the traditional boundaries between art and craft, challenging us to find beauty in the everyday.