Creamer 1936

This is a drawing of a creamer by Joseph Sudek, though the exact date it was made is not known. It depicts a cream pitcher with swirling Art Nouveau designs and a separate view of the top of the pitcher. The Art Nouveau style, which blossomed at the turn of the 20th century, emphasized the decorative arts and often drew inspiration from the natural world. Looking at this drawing, we can ask, what was the public role of decorative art in the Czech lands where Sudek lived? Was it intended to be functional? Or beautiful? Or both? The presence of the logo on the top of the design suggests it was intended for commercial manufacture. The image creates meaning through its elegant visual codes. It shows a pitcher that is both functional and beautiful, which may reflect the Czech desire for cultural products to be both useful and pleasing. To understand this work better, one could research the history of Czech design and the Czech economy. The meaning of art is always contingent on social and institutional context.