Father, Mother, and Child in a Park 1805 - 1815

John Christian Rauschner created this relief, "Father, Mother, and Child in a Park," around the turn of the 19th century, using wax and glass. But look closely - this isn't just wax; it's built up and meticulously modeled. The artist uses wax, a material often associated with ephemerality and craft, to create a tableau of bourgeois domesticity. The figures are carefully sculpted, their clothing precisely rendered, conveying status and aspiration. The dark, almost brooding background, in contrast with the delicate figures, gives the work an uncanny depth. It feels as if the artist intended it to last, but wax is by its nature a fragile material. Consider the time and labor that went into this piece. Wax modeling demands precision and patience. The artist employed tools and skills akin to those of a sculptor or jeweler. The choice of wax, alongside the high level of detail, elevates this work beyond mere craft, blurring the lines between art and artisanry. It's a fascinating insight into the values and aesthetics of its time, challenging our conventional categories.