Harlequin 1765 - 1785

Editor: Here we have "Harlequin," a porcelain sculpture created between 1765 and 1785 by the Gardner Manufactory, currently residing at the Met. It has this playful, almost theatrical air about it, enhanced by the colorful harlequin suit and the doffed hat. What can you tell me about this work? Curator: Notice the materiality first – the refined porcelain. It speaks volumes about the context of its creation and consumption. Porcelain, particularly in the 18th century, represented luxury and status, fueled by colonial extraction of raw materials. Consider the labor involved – skilled artisans meticulously crafting this figure, probably for a wealthy European household. The Harlequin figure itself draws from the *commedia dell'arte*, a form of popular theatre. Editor: So, the porcelain is indicative of the socio-economic status linked with artistry and luxury, not simply a neutral material. It is part of what conveys this narrative about society! Curator: Precisely. It challenges the idea of "fine art" existing in a vacuum. Think about the mines from which the materials originate and the exploitative nature of the trade routes supplying European factories. And notice the figure’s positioning atop of a white column on grass: why is it a sculpture and not an original harlequin character in full life size? Editor: That does makes me think more critically about the origins of the piece itself. Thank you, that was illuminating. Curator: Likewise; understanding the social framework in which these pieces are created offers new pathways for understanding them.