Lady with pug dogs 1744

This elegant sculpture, “Lady with pug dogs,” was crafted by the Meissen Manufactory, standing at approximately 11 inches in height. The eye is immediately drawn to the figure’s expansive, floral-patterned dress. The dress, which dominates the sculpture, acts as a semiotic canvas, the scattered floral designs a coded language reflecting the refined tastes and social identity of the elite during its time. The pug dogs, nestled at the hem of the dress and adorning her waist, serve as status symbols, emblematic of luxury and aristocratic privilege. The artist skillfully uses porcelain to convey a sense of lightness. This is evident in the delicate rendering of the dress and the smooth contours of the lady’s face. This creates a visual dialogue between materiality and representation, inviting us to consider how art destabilizes conventional understandings of material culture.