America 1760 - 1770

This porcelain sculpture, conceived by the Frankenthal Manufactory, presents us with a figure representing ‘America’. Note the use of the indigenous man adorned with feathers, a recurring motif in the visual vocabulary representing the newly ‘discovered’ continent. This representation is not merely descriptive, but deeply symbolic. Compare it to classical depictions of river gods; in both, the figure embodies the essence of a place, its natural abundance, and, perhaps, its subjugation. Consider how, over time, such depictions evolve. The romanticized, exotic ‘native’ present here shifts, transforms, and reappears in various guises, sometimes celebratory, often appropriated. This image, with its complex layering of cultural projection, engages our subconscious, stirring a potent mix of fascination and unease. The sculpture captures the spirit of its age, a spirit that continues to resonate, prompting us to reflect on the ebb and flow of cultural memory.