Vase 1893 - 1896

This elegant vase was made by Louis Comfort Tiffany, the American artist and designer, and is now part of the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s collection. Tiffany was a key figure in the Art Nouveau movement in the United States, which sought to integrate art and design, and often drew inspiration from the natural world. The vase embodies the Art Nouveau style, with its flowing lines, iridescent colors, and organic forms. It's not just an aesthetic object, but a cultural artifact reflecting America's Gilded Age, a period of rapid industrialization and growing social inequality. Tiffany’s opulent creations were embraced by the upper classes, who sought to display their wealth and refined taste. Art historians like myself use a wide range of resources, from archival documents to sociological studies, to understand the social context in which artworks like this vase were produced and consumed. By examining the cultural values and economic structures of the time, we can gain a deeper appreciation of the complex meanings embedded in this beautiful object.