Plate with an image of The Parasol Lady c. 1736 - 1738

This Chinese porcelain plate, found in the collection of the Rijksmuseum, presents an intriguing snapshot of social hierarchy. The central image of a woman sheltered by a parasol speaks to the status and privilege afforded to some in Chinese society. Consider the visual codes at play here. The parasol itself acts as a symbol of wealth, signifying the bearer’s detachment from manual labor and exposure to the elements. The surrounding imagery, with its idyllic natural setting and elegantly dressed figures, reinforces a narrative of leisure and refinement. This imagery likely reflects the values of the wealthy merchant classes that produced and consumed these goods. As historians, our work is to unravel the layers of meaning embedded within such objects. By consulting period texts, social histories, and trade records, we can gain a deeper appreciation of the role this plate played in reinforcing and perhaps subtly critiquing the social structures of its time. The history of art becomes a history of social life.