Earth 1745 - 1765

Jean-Pierre Defrance created this over seven-foot-tall sculpture, titled *Earth*, sometime in the 18th century. This piece embodies a moment when European art was deeply entwined with representations of power, gender, and the natural world. The female figure, draped in classical robes, symbolizes the earth’s bounty. Her gentle gaze and serene posture reflect an idealized vision of femininity, which was a construct that defined women through their capacity to nurture. Yet, consider the labor required to cultivate the abundance she holds – the unseen hands that toiled in the fields, often women and the working class, were excluded from such noble portrayals. The cherubic figure at her side is reminiscent of a putti. This sculpture invites reflection on how art not only mirrors its time but also actively participates in shaping societal values and erasures. It urges us to consider whose stories are told and whose remain buried beneath the surface.