Columbine (one of a pair) 1748 - 1759

This delicate porcelain figure, Columbine, was created by the Fürstenberg Porcelain Manufactory. The eye is immediately drawn to the figures’ harlequinade costumes, with their intricate patterns of repeating triangles in soft blues, oranges and greens. These geometric shapes create a sense of movement and visual rhythm across the surface of the figurines. The figures themselves are frozen in a balletic pose, and the dynamism of the pattern contrasts with the stillness of the porcelain. This juxtaposition creates a fascinating tension, where the vibrancy of the surface design animates the static form, suggesting a deeper commentary on the relationship between representation and reality. Consider too how these repetitive patterns undermine the supposed uniqueness of each figure, hinting at a world where identity itself is a performance, a construction of signs. By disrupting traditional notions of representation, this Columbine invites us to question the very nature of form and its meaning.