Man 1750 - 1799

Giuseppe Gori made this earthenware figure of a man, somewhere between 1770 and 1810. The figure is made of humble materials but it imitates the clothing of the upper class. It is 13 and a half inches in height, a bit like a doll. Its size is important, it shows the intimacy of the object. The hollow terracotta body is modeled, with paint to mimic the fashionable finery of the day, but look closer: the man’s breeches are torn. The details are skillfully done but there are no illusions; the figure is made from readily available materials, rather than the luxurious fabrics it represents. The sculpture is painted in a way that reflects the labor involved in its creation, and it does not pretend to be anything other than what it is. By emphasizing the value and expressiveness of the craft traditions, it challenges traditional distinctions between fine art and craft.