Plate 1759 - 1793

This tin-glazed earthenware plate at the Metropolitan Museum of Art was made by De Porceleyne Bijl. Its monochrome palette and circular form present a pastoral scene reminiscent of September harvests. The composition, segmented by trees, guides the eye in a rhythmic dance across the plate. On the left a figure strides forward under the weight of a basket. In the center, a figure looks upward, reaching for unseen fruit. A third is perched in the branches. Together they form a diagonal progression that seems to suggest the passage of time itself. The stark monochrome palette flattens depth, emphasizing the stylized forms of trees, figures, and distant buildings. This plate isn't merely decorative; it’s a structured tableau. Each element, from the stylized trees to the distant buildings, functions as a signifier within a visual language. By flattening and reducing forms, the artist invites us to decode its structural underpinnings, challenging our perception of space and representation.