Joseph Fröhlich 1736

This porcelain figure of Joseph Fröhlich was created by the Meissen Manufactory. The figure is presented on a small hexagonal plinth. This ornamental base supports a stout man dressed in black breeches, and a brightly coloured jacket; his small boots are also black, while atop his head sits a tall, pointed hat. The figure is intriguing because of its flamboyant design. The hat's peak and the high gloss of the breeches draw your eye upwards, where the gaze is then softened by the ruffled collar and jester-like tunic. The shiny material of the boots and pants contrasts against the matte finish of the skin and colourful, intricately designed jacket. This clever manipulation of texture and color reflects the fashion and theatricality of the time, embodying the tension between ornamentation and the desire to capture individual essence, making the work a complex representation of identity and spectacle.