Geschulpte schotel of bord van beschilderd porselein c. 1774 - 1784

This painted porcelain plate was crafted in Loosdrecht, its surface adorned with delicate green floral motifs. The central posy and scattered sprigs echo a long history of floral symbolism, dating back to ancient times. Consider the enduring allure of flowers in art—symbols of ephemerality, beauty, and renewal. From the floral garlands in Roman frescoes to the blooms scattered across Renaissance paintings, flowers have served as potent reminders of life’s transient nature. In Dutch still life, a wilting bloom might represent the fleeting nature of earthly pleasures, a ‘memento mori.’ Yet, here, the stylized simplicity of these green sprigs lacks the overt moralizing of earlier works. The subconscious desire to reconnect with nature perhaps? This echoes humanity's deep-seated need for beauty and order, a visual balm that transcends time. We see these motifs return, morph, and resurface, their emotional resonance ever-present.