Man with a Mixing Bowl 1736

Joseph Willems created this terracotta sculpture, "Man with a Mixing Bowl," sometime between 1750 and 1766. It presents us with a complicated picture of 18th-century European views on race and labor. During this period, Europe's colonial expansion relied heavily on the labor of enslaved Africans. Willems' sculpture captures a Black man engaged in what appears to be a domestic task. The mixing bowl suggests servitude, reinforcing the racial stereotypes of the time. Yet, the man's composed expression and upright posture offer a counter-narrative of dignity and resilience. Willems' choice of terracotta, a common material, makes this piece both an artistic study and a social commentary. Was he simply reflecting the accepted norms, or was he trying to infuse his subject with a sense of humanity that challenged the era's dehumanizing practices? The sculpture invites us to consider the diverse ways in which Black individuals were seen and how they saw themselves amid the oppressive structures of slavery. It's a reminder of the complex layers of identity and representation.