Schotel van faïence 1728

This faience plate was made by Johannes Verhagen, sometime before 1739. The scene depicts people drinking and celebrating outside a building, rendered in blue against the white ceramic. In the 18th century, the Netherlands was a global hub for trade and commerce. Delftware, with its blue and white aesthetic mimicking Chinese porcelain, became a symbol of Dutch prosperity and cultural identity. Yet, this prosperity was inextricably linked to the Dutch colonial empire and the exploitation of resources and labor in places like Indonesia and the Americas. Consider how the merriment captured on this plate contrasts with the realities of those who were subjugated by Dutch power. How does this object, intended for domestic use and enjoyment, reflect the complex relationship between pleasure, privilege, and colonial history? The figures here, seemingly carefree, unknowingly stand on a foundation built by inequity.