Children with shellfish and vegetables 1751 - 1761

Editor: This is "Children with Shellfish and Vegetables" created by Robert Joseph Auguste, sometime between 1751 and 1761. It’s a marble sculpture. It has a playful feel to it, a sense of abundance and youthful energy. What are your first impressions? Curator: It whispers Rococo whimsy to me. Look at those cherubic figures, practically tumbling over a harvest of earthly delights. I can almost smell the brine of the shellfish mingled with the damp earthiness of the vegetables. Isn't it interesting how Auguste uses a hard, unforgiving material like marble to evoke such a soft, fleshy sensuality? Editor: Yes, it is! It’s almost a contradiction, the coldness of the marble versus the warmth of the subject matter. Was this a common theme during the Rococo period? Curator: Absolutely! This celebration of everyday life, idealized and infused with a sense of joy, is quintessential Rococo. It's not just about the visible…feel the laughter in the carving! These children aren’t just holding shellfish, they're embodying a carefree existence, an almost Edenic innocence. Do you see that in their gestures? Editor: I do now, especially the child reaching out with the bunch of grapes, it's as though they are presenting the abundance they live among. But how much of this was idealised versus representing a reality? Curator: Ah, there's the delicious question, isn’t it? Rococo was all about escapism. The sculpture offers a polished and elegant rendering of life. The kind most could only dream of back then. A very fancy, elaborate dream, I’d add. Editor: I hadn’t considered it from that point of view. Now when I look, I also get a sense of desire – to reach that type of wealth and carelessness. Thanks for shining a light on this for me! Curator: My pleasure. Seeing through art’s own unique lenses, is what makes our world, brighter and a tad bit…surreal!