Twee terracotta sculpturen van Charon en Diana before 1857

These two terracotta sculptures of Charon and Diana were created by Marcel Gustave Laverdet. Laverdet worked with terracotta, an ancient material, literally 'baked earth', favored by sculptors for its plasticity. The image is interesting in that it allows us to consider the process of molding and firing the clay, which determines the final appearance of each sculpture. Charon, the ferryman of the underworld, is depicted with a stark realism in his posture, while Diana, the Roman goddess of the hunt, emerges as an archetype of beauty, immortalized in baked clay. Terracotta occupies an ambiguous place in the history of art. It has been used to create high art, but also mass-produced figurines. Laverdet's choice of this material, and its inherently accessible qualities, invites us to reflect on the social dimensions of art production. Through the lens of material and making, we can challenge conventional hierarchies between fine art and craft.