Two children 1751 - 1754

Editor: This delicate porcelain sculpture, "Two Children," was created by the Chelsea Porcelain Manufactory between 1751 and 1754. The figures are so sweetly rendered; what do you make of its context, given that children in this era did not experience the same innocence that our societies ascribe to them today? Curator: That's a critical observation. Often these Rococo decorative arts, seemingly lighthearted, mask complex social realities. Here, these 'children' holding a cage and a box likely represent allegories, perhaps related to love or virtue, intended for an aristocratic audience. Think about the power dynamics inherent in representing idealized, infantilized figures. Editor: So, the sculpture isn’t necessarily about childhood itself, but uses it as a symbol? Curator: Precisely. How do we read the act of containing in these gestures? The birdcage evokes control over nature and perhaps a gendered metaphor of confining freedom, whereas the open box presents an offer or perhaps alludes to secrets and intrigues common within courtly love. Does that then force us to wonder about accessibility of pleasure versus liberty? Editor: I never considered that relationship with accessibility and power, that is so helpful. Considering the history and knowing the audience really shifts how I understood these sculptures. I saw it as sweet, but there's so much more embedded in it than meets the eye. Curator: Indeed. Examining art through an intersectional lens—considering gender, class, and social power—unveils the layered meanings embedded within even seemingly innocent objects. And those social tensions speak directly to our current society and concerns, regardless of the passage of time. Editor: Thank you! I’ll definitely be looking at art differently from now on!