Terracotta fish-plate 375 BC

This terracotta fish-plate, made by an anonymous artist, is now located in the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The plate offers a peek into the culinary and cultural habits of ancient societies, reminding us that food and its presentation have always been intertwined with identity and status. The plate isn't just a functional object; it's a canvas reflecting the relationship between humans and the natural world. Consider how marine life, depicted here, played into the economy, diet, and symbolic language of the time. The act of depicting fish on a plate intended for serving fish complicates this relationship, layering consumption with artistic representation. What does it mean to adorn an object of consumption with images of what is being consumed? This plate invites us to reflect on the intersection of nature, culture, and daily life.