Plate 1812 - 1837

This earthenware plate was made by James and Ralph Clews around 1813. The visual elements of the plate strike an intricate balance between order and complexity, inviting us to decode its symbolic language. The plate's monochromatic palette emphasizes form and texture, and the composition is structured around a central landscape flanked by allegorical figures. Note the careful arrangement of the surrounding text and decorative motifs; this creates a semiotic field where each element functions as a signifier. The framing of the central image—seemingly the White House—between personifications of America and Independence, suggests the establishment of a new order, an assertion of national identity. The plate employs a visual grammar rooted in classical and early American iconography, inviting an ongoing dialogue between art, history, and cultural identity.