Europe, from Allegories of the Four Continents 1781 - 1788

This exquisite porcelain sculpture of “Europe” was created by the Fulda Pottery and Porcelain Manufactory. Here, Europe is embodied by a crowned female figure. This crown is not a mere ornament; it symbolizes dominion and authority, echoing the crowns worn by emperors and gods across millennia. Observe how she elegantly bestrides a horse, a motif resonating with equestrian statues of Roman emperors and Renaissance rulers. This pairing of woman and horse is not unique; consider how, in ancient Greece, Europa was abducted by Zeus in the form of a bull. This continuity suggests that our collective memory is deeply embedded with archetypal images of power, desire, and transformation. The gestures and symbols of "Europe" tap into subconscious reservoirs, evoking feelings of admiration, aspiration, and perhaps even a tinge of longing for a glorious past. The cultural memory of Europe is thus not a linear progression, but a cyclical return of potent symbols, each time reshaped and recontextualized by the ever-evolving human psyche.