Girl cranking a hurdy-gurdy 1741 - 1758

This porcelain figure of a girl cranking a hurdy-gurdy was made by Johannes Zeschinger in Germany in the 18th century. We see here the commercial development of sculpture, as porcelain manufacture created a market for relatively cheap, mass-produced works of art. The rise of consumerism in Europe brought new subjects for art, such as this working-class girl who would have been seen in city streets entertaining passersby. As a type, she is presented as both picturesque and harmless. Figures such as this one were commissioned by the royal court and presented as gifts. The girl is dressed in bright colors and stands on an ornamental base, elevating her status from working class to art object. To better understand this work, you might consider researching social histories of working-class life in 18th-century Germany, as well as institutional histories of the royal court. The meaning of this piece is found in the social and institutional contexts of its making.