Vase (rolwagen) with a meeting between officials and a hermit in a landscape c. 1635 - 1650

This "Vase with a meeting between officials and a hermit in a landscape" was crafted anonymously, presenting us with a captivating narrative rendered in shades of blue on porcelain. The overall impression is of dynamic interplay between the figures depicted. They seem to emerge from a landscape of layered vegetation and waterfalls. The blue brushstrokes create a sense of depth, while the white porcelain offers a blank space that defines the composition. The structure of the vase itself mirrors the narrative: it starts with a stable base, moves upwards through the unfolding story, and concludes with stylized patterns near the rim. This design suggests a visual dialogue between the static form of the vase and the dynamic scene painted upon it. It challenges fixed meanings, allowing for ongoing interpretation. Consider how the artist destabilizes established meanings, values, or categories in the landscape depicted on this artifact.