"Owl and Pussycat" covered tray 1870 - 1900

Editor: This glass tray with a cover, entitled "Owl and Pussycat," is estimated to be crafted between 1870 and 1900. The artist is anonymous, but the engraving has such delicate and playful features, what can you tell me about this artwork? Curator: The charm of this decorative piece resides primarily in its formal qualities. Note how the transparent glass, a medium that both conceals and reveals, interacts with the engraved narrative. The artist cleverly uses the curvature of the dome to distort and then clarify the images, animating the subjects as you shift your viewing point. Observe the careful balance of the composition: the horizontal band which defines the tray acts as an anchoring foundation, a stage, against which the figures play. Editor: That's interesting; I hadn’t considered the base as part of the artwork's plane, but as a framing device. Do you think this band affects how one views the figures depicted? Curator: Absolutely, it structures your gaze. Furthermore, look at how the engraved lines, subtle yet precise, create texture and volume. This interplay of light and shadow on clear glass endows a flat design with dimensionality, almost a ghostly presence. The translucency encourages interaction as if we might grasp an idea of what this "presence" alludes to. Is the relationship between volume and void deliberate or accidental? Editor: That makes me want to inspect the artwork more closely! Thank you for guiding me to see these subtleties. Curator: The pleasure is all mine. Close visual examination often rewards the dedicated viewer with an abundance of insightful perspectives.