Figure of a merchant c. 1759 - 1762

This is a porcelain figure of a merchant, produced by the Frankenthal Manufactory. Note how the figure is looking upwards and pointing to the sky, perhaps imitating how street vendors hawked goods. It's interesting to consider the gesture of pointing, which recurs throughout art history. In religious iconography, this gesture often directs our attention towards the divine, seen in images of John the Baptist. Here, the gesture is secular, yet it retains a sense of invocation. Perhaps, pointing to something beyond the immediate, suggesting the allure and promise of commerce, or the endless possibilities of the open market. The presence of the barrel at the feet of the figure, a symbol of earthly delights, contrasts with the elevated gaze and pointing finger. This tension speaks to our inherent desires and aspirations, forever oscillating between the mundane and the sublime. The figure's pose embodies a deep, primal urge to seek fulfillment beyond our immediate circumstances. This quest, etched in our collective memory, resurfaces in various forms across history, as humanity constantly seeks meaning and transcendence.