Figurine 1749 - 1760

Paul Antoine Hannong created this delicate porcelain figurine sometime before 1760, now held at the Minneapolis Institute of Art. The sculpture's smooth, pure white surface immediately catches the eye, a testament to the porcelain's refined texture. The composition is dominated by soft curves, from the gentle slope of the shepherd's shoulders to the lamb he cradles. Hannong's choice of porcelain and its flawless execution elevates the mundane scene to a realm of idealized pastoral beauty. The figure's whiteness and the absence of color act as potent signifiers, evoking notions of purity, innocence, and classical ideals, aligning with the Enlightenment's fascination with reason and order. Consider how the figurine prompts us to reflect on the interplay between material, form, and cultural meaning. It reminds us that art is not just about representation but about the ideas and values we project onto it.