Pitcher / Jarra 1810-1840, Puente del Arzobispo, Spain Private Collection Photo by Paul Smutko

Italian potters living in Spain in the 16th century introduced the concept of tile as a canvas. Some of the earliest depictions of daily life were the trade tiles, or oficios, depicting people in various occupations. These were often created as advertisements for businesses, and were comprehensible to a largely illiterate population.

Plates and pots were also vehicles for depicting everyday activities and clothing, sometimes expressing political statements and satire. Seventeenth and 18th century examples from Mexico were dominated by motifs and characters derived from Chinese porcelains, but in the 19th century, Spanish and French-style genre scenes became more prevalent. In early 19th century Spain, some vessels bore the image of Ferdinand VII, indicating loyalty to the Royalists who were supporting Ferdinand against the French invasions led by Napoleon.