Zes objecten van aardewerk geproduceerd door Jean-Charles en Charles Avisseau, opgesteld tijdens de Exposition Rétrospective van 1873 in Tours, Frankrijk 1873

Gabriel Blaise captured this image of earthenware objects by Jean-Charles and Charles Avisseau at the 1873 Exposition Rétrospective in Tours, France. The objects on display include a plate, candle holder, and a religious sculpture set against a draped background. Consider the fish depicted on the plate. Across time, the fish symbol has traversed many waters. In early Christian iconography, it represented Christ, a symbol of faith and abundance. Even earlier, images of fish were found in Roman mosaics as a common subject. Yet, the presence of the fish in the present context isn't merely a matter of religious observance. It is, perhaps, a subconscious nod to our primordial past, evoking the depths of human memory and the instincts tied to survival and sustenance. The image invites us to reflect on the passage of time, the evolution of symbols, and the layers of meaning embedded within these objects.