Portrait of Princess Leopoldine Karoline Palffy 

This watercolor by Josef Kriehuber depicts Princess Leopoldine Karoline Palffy. The tea set displayed here provides a glimpse into the rituals of the elite. The tea set, more than a mere collection of utensils, is symbolic of social rituals, and recalls the Mad Tea-Party from Alice in Wonderland. This motif finds echoes in paintings through the centuries, each reflecting the societal values of its time. Tea set is present in numerous paintings, like “The Tea Party” (1730) by Jean-Francois de Troy and “Young Mother Nursing Her Child” (1918) by Mary Cassatt. The motif of tea drinking is often used to show elegance and good manners. It surfaces time and again, each time colored by the nuances of its era. Such symbols engage viewers on a deep, subconscious level, tapping into collective memories and cultural understandings. The persistence of this symbol reveals how cultural memory and subconscious processes continue to shape our art.