Vase with riverlandscapes c. 1775 - 1799

This porcelain vase with river landscapes was anonymously made, but it shows us how global trade impacted cultural tastes. The blue and white glaze of this piece directly references Chinese porcelain which had been imported to Europe since the late middle ages. By the 17th century, Dutch merchants were dominating this trade. With this import of foreign goods, the Dutch also imported new attitudes toward art. They began to value secular art, especially landscapes, as well as valuing fine craftsmanship and artistic skill. Although Chinese porcelain was highly desired in Europe, there was also a desire to produce similar goods at home. The landscapes painted on porcelain in the Netherlands catered to the taste of Dutch consumers, and thus demonstrate the shifting perception of art and artistic institutions in response to global trade. To understand this, we need to look at economic data, trade routes, and the ledgers of the Dutch East India Company to understand not just the art itself, but the economic and cultural context.