Dwarf 1735 - 1750

This small porcelain figure, created by Villeroy in the 18th century, presents a whimsical character. The Dwarf is rendered with a playful quality that comes through its exaggerated proportions, decorative floral patterns and polka dots against the stark white of the porcelain. The figure stands just six inches tall, a scale that invites close inspection, emphasizing the craftsmanship involved in its creation. The Dwarf appears to be standing atop what looks like a mound with mottled blues and greens that suggest the landscape. His clothing is patterned with small florets and dark polka dots, and he is draped with a blue sash across the chest, as well as adorned with a wide-brimmed hat. The artist plays with surface textures, using the smooth porcelain to contrast with the intricate patterns on the figure’s clothes, an interplay that engages the viewer's visual and tactile senses. The figure destabilizes traditional notions of beauty and proportion by engaging with the aesthetics of caricature and the grotesque. This challenges the viewer to question fixed meanings and values.