Figure of the dismissed maid c. 1765 - 1770

Curator: Ah, here we have the exquisite "Figure of the dismissed maid," created circa 1765-1770 by the Porzellanmanufaktur Frankenthal, residing here at the Rijksmuseum. Editor: My initial impression is one of restrained sorrow. It’s not overt grief, but a poignant snapshot of a life altered, etched in the delicate porcelain. Curator: Indeed. Look closer; you'll see so much is communicated. The drooping shoulders of the departing maid, contrasted with the seated figure, perhaps the mistress, in her floral gown seemingly issuing final instructions. The cool smoothness of porcelain, the way it allows for such fine detail…it almost belies the raw emotions possibly at play here. Editor: Raw emotions shaped by specific social forces. The porcelain itself speaks to a culture of high consumption and courtly display. To sculpt these scenes of everyday life, genre paintings if you will, into a medium associated with wealth - the socio-economic dimension is stark! Curator: I concur, but it also touches on something profoundly human, don’t you think? This is not merely documenting class divides. Notice the small table between them. A pink pouch, an opened box… hints of intimacy breached. Perhaps the dismissed maid wasn't simply a servant, but a confidante too? Editor: Interesting reading, because to me it is a reminder that such intimacy exists only within constraints determined by hierarchy and labor. Who crafts the objects of intimacy, what is considered "precious" about these, are products of that time. Curator: Porcelain was certainly a statement. It's so fragile and was therefore highly precious and displayed as status objects. And yet, in this sculpture, it also serves to capture the quiet heartbreak of a life changing moment for the women portrayed. It transcends pure display, it allows us to think deeply on what can be rendered from everyday life with such delicate craftsmanship. Editor: That balance—the artistry serving both social commentary and emotional resonance—is where I see the richness of the piece as well. The dismissal of this maid, whether it stemmed from betrayal, societal shift, or otherwise…is rendered beautifully tangible through labor intensive production. The level of social history locked into such careful composition, is palpable, you can feel it here. Curator: A little world, a tiny human drama, fired in a kiln and brought to life again, centuries later. Editor: Material turned narrative turned history; always shaping each other.