Making Ceramics 1800 - 1854

Editor: This watercolor painting is titled "Making Ceramics," and it’s from somewhere between 1800 and 1854. It’s attributed to Eiraku Hozen. The composition is fascinating, showing different stages of ceramic production. I am curious, as a historian, what key details do you think tell the story of its time period and how people might have perceived it? Curator: That's a great question. The genre scene itself – depicting everyday life - becomes popular, signalling a shift away from purely religious or aristocratic subjects. Its placement within the Met collection implies it also gains legitimacy within the art establishment, impacting its valuation, as well as cultural understanding and the importance we place on such labour. Editor: So you're saying even choosing this subject reflects a cultural shift? How do you see that playing out? Curator: Exactly. Prior to this shift, the labor of ceramic production, especially within artisanal or rural communities, might not have been considered worthy of artistic representation. What is included or, importantly, omitted tells us something. The artist has romanticized what may have been harsh realities of everyday labor for marginalized people, but perhaps it also demonstrates a changing attitude toward the value of everyday work. How does the depiction of labor in this painting compare to other artworks you've seen from this period? Editor: I haven’t really considered the labor in the artwork. Most pieces that I've seen are very much removed from it. This makes me think that artwork has a way of documenting cultural ideals. Curator: Precisely. Considering the 'public role' of art also makes one wonder how museums and galleries mediate our perception of labor. Museums decide whose stories are told, shaping public perception and reinforcing social hierarchies. Editor: This really opened my eyes to how museums and art are shaping our perception of the world. Curator: And hopefully how we engage with art as an active conversation, too.