La Nourrice 1748 - 1758

This porcelain figurine, titled La Nourrice, was made in the mid-18th century by the Chelsea Porcelain Manufactory. Porcelain like this was a luxury good. It begins as a clay, transformed by intense heat into a durable, translucent material that could be intricately molded. Look closely, and you can almost see the individual brushstrokes of the enamel paint. The making of this sculpture would have been divided labor. Some artisans specializing in shaping the clay, others in firing, and still others in the delicate application of color. The scene depicts a woman nursing a child. During this period, it was common for wealthy families to employ wet nurses, often from the working class, to breastfeed their children. The title, "La Nourrice," confirms this status. This sculpture speaks volumes about class, labor, and even motherhood during the rise of the European market. It reminds us that art objects, however beautiful, are deeply embedded in the social and economic structures of their time.