Cake plate with fish 1866 - 1867

This cake plate with fish was made by Félix Bracquemond, a 19th-century artist who lived in a time of huge change in France. Bracquemond was at the forefront of the Japonism movement, which saw artists and designers incorporating Japanese art styles and motifs into their work. The fish and butterfly on this plate aren't just decorative; they reflect a deep engagement with Japanese aesthetics, which valued naturalism and asymmetry. Think about how, in a society like 19th century France, which was still very much based on class differences, art from other places provided inspiration to imagine alternative social and aesthetic structures. Through the depiction of these delicate, natural forms, we can see the artist's desire to create a more intimate connection to the natural world, inviting us to pause and appreciate the beauty of the everyday.