Reclamefoto met serviezen en keukengerei van de firma C. Read & Co., Baltimore, Maryland 1920 - 1930

Editor: This is an advertisement, a “Reclamefoto met serviezen en keukengerei van de firma C. Read & Co., Baltimore, Maryland,” made sometime between 1920 and 1930 by the Stadler Photographing Company. It looks like it's made of watercolours and coloured pencil. I’m really drawn to the materiality of it all – the colours, the texture of the paper. What stands out to you? Curator: The appeal here is precisely its function as a promotional image, a material artifact embedded within the circuits of consumption. Think about the labour involved, not just of the artists creating this "painting" to sell dishware, but also the manufacturing of the porcelain itself, the mining of materials. It highlights the intertwined relationship between art, labor, and commodity culture in the early 20th century. Editor: That's fascinating! I was so focused on the colours that I overlooked the intended message. What do the colour swatches communicate, then? Curator: The materiality and colours are key to how the image promotes its products! This "Reclamefoto" emphasizes the various colour options, showcasing the possibilities for consumers to personalize their domestic spaces through these commodities. By highlighting color variations, the manufacturer suggests the value of aesthetic choice and novelty. Editor: It makes me rethink the artistry behind it. It's not just a pretty picture, it's a tool for production. Curator: Exactly. We must reconsider the traditional hierarchies between ‘art’ and ‘craft’ by looking at their entangled economic realities. Editor: I learned how deeply the art is related with society needs, production, and consumption of everyday-life objects. Thank you. Curator: Indeed. Paying attention to the objecthood of art, in turn, illuminates broader social and material relations.