Drinkglazen, plaat XIX 1827 - 1829

Charles Onghena created this print, "Drinkglazen, plaat XIX," sometime in the 19th century. It presents a range of designs for ornate drinking glasses, reflecting the era’s fascination with craftsmanship and elaborate table settings. This image speaks volumes about the cultural values of 19th-century Europe, particularly in Belgium where Onghena was from. The emphasis on decorative arts highlights a society where the burgeoning middle class sought to emulate the aristocracy. The elaborate designs indicate not only wealth but also the social rituals surrounding dining and entertainment. Institutions such as design schools and manufacturing workshops played a crucial role in fostering such artistic production, catering to a market keen on displaying status through material possessions. To understand this artwork better, one might delve into historical records of glass production techniques, design trends, and social etiquette of the time. Art history, in this sense, is a form of social history, revealing how cultural values are embedded in the objects we create and consume.