Bird seller (one of a pair) 1745

Editor: Here we have "Bird Seller," one of a pair of porcelain sculptures made around 1745 by the Meissen Manufactory. The figures, a man and a woman, each hold bird cages, but what strikes me most is the figures' posture and how that plays against the hard geometry of the cages. What do you notice? Curator: Indeed. The most remarkable aspect is the contrasting textures and the play of forms. Note the smooth, almost translucent quality of the porcelain juxtaposed against the rigid geometric patterns of the cages. It highlights the mastery of the Meissen artisans. Observe how the curved lines of the figures are amplified in the clothing yet constrained by the object that they are tasked with holding. Do you agree? Editor: I do see how the curving of the Rococo style of clothing has an artificial restraint imposed. So would you say the meaning emerges primarily through this interplay of materials and forms? Curator: Precisely. The artist emphasizes surface and form to establish a dialectic tension between the figures, their clothing and implements, and the space each occupies. Through the visual harmony, one might come to perceive these figures not merely as genre figures, but as orchestrators of visual tensions in porcelain form. Editor: Fascinating. The sculpture feels so much more dynamic now. Curator: Hopefully, this provides a new lens to perceive these figures.