Plate 1875

This is Félix Bracquemond's 'Plate', a 9-inch diameter ceramic piece found at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Bracquemond made this plate during the Japonisme craze in France, when anything Japanese was deemed chic. The image is dominated by bamboo. It also features stylized clouds and a flock of birds, all arranged in a manner reminiscent of Japanese prints. We might ask: what are the politics of imitating Japanese art? Bracquemond was a well-known painter and etcher, but he made his living designing ceramics and other decorative arts. As an intellectual artist, what did he make of this commercial imperative? To answer these questions, historians turn to documents, publications, and exhibition records to locate this artwork in its proper social and institutional context. Such research can reveal how the artist situated himself in relation to broader historical trends.