Tailor's wife riding a goat (one of a pair) 1735 - 1745

This porcelain sculpture of a tailor's wife on a goat was crafted by the Meissen Manufactory. The sculpture, with its crisp lines and delicate form, captures a whimsical scene that blends social satire with the aesthetics of Rococo art. Consider how the artist uses the medium of porcelain itself. The smooth, reflective surface enhances the intricate detailing, from the floral patterns on the tailor's wife's dress to the musculature of the goat. The composition directs our gaze upward, from the goat’s sturdy legs to the woman’s calm, composed face. This vertical emphasis is stabilized by the horizontal lines of the goat’s back and the woman’s posture, creating a balanced, if somewhat unconventional, pyramidal structure. The sculpture destabilizes traditional class representations by placing a commoner in an elevated, almost aristocratic pose. It prompts us to reconsider the social hierarchies of the time. The artist invites us to question fixed meanings, engaging with new ways of thinking about representation. The use of porcelain—typically associated with wealth and status—further complicates these social dynamics.