Little girl playing with a dog, from Deuxième Livre de Figures d'après les porcelaines de la Manufacture Royale de France (Second Book of Figures after porcelains from the Manufacture Royale de France) 1757 - 1771

Pierre François Tardieu created this print, "Little girl playing with a dog," sometime in the 18th century. It comes from a book of prints depicting porcelain figures made at the Royal Factory of France. The print provides us with a glimpse into the culture of aristocratic consumption. It seems like a simple image: a young girl plays with her dog. Yet, consider the context. The Royal Factory of France made luxury goods for the aristocracy, and this print was a form of advertising. The image creates a sense of refined leisure, associating the porcelain figures with the innocence and carefree nature of childhood. It's worth considering how such imagery helped to reinforce social hierarchies. To understand this print fully, we might research the history of the Royal Factory, the social status of its patrons, and the role of childhood in aristocratic culture. Through such inquiries, we can gain a deeper understanding of the social and cultural forces at play in this seemingly simple image.