Porcelain Sale c. 1690 - 1713

Pieter Schenk made this print, titled "Porcelain Sale," around the turn of the 18th century. It's rendered with the fine, deliberate lines of an engraving. In the scene, we see figures trading porcelain, a prized material, particularly in Europe at this time. Porcelain was synonymous with China, and the Dutch East India Company was the main conduit for its distribution. The work's material and process speak directly to global trade. Look closely, and you'll see the contrast between the smooth, hard surfaces of the porcelain vessels, and the human figures, who seem to be of African or South Asian descent. The contrast raises questions. Who made these objects? And under what conditions were they traded? Consider the labor that went into both the production of the wares and the colonial exploitation required to get them to market. By focusing on materials, making, and context, we can unpack the rich, and often troubling, stories embedded within this image.