Little girl holding grapes with a basket of them by her side, from Deuxième Livre de Figures d'après les porcelaines de la Manufacture Royale de France (Second Book of Figures after porcelains from the Manufacture Royale de France) 1757 - 1771

Pierre François Tardieu created this print, Little Girl Holding Grapes, in France some time in the mid-18th century. It was based on a design by Boucher, and reproduced as part of a series depicting porcelain figures made at the Manufacture Royale de France. What does it mean to take a three-dimensional, artisanal object and turn it into a two-dimensional, reproducible image? The print flattens and idealizes the original sculpture, while also making it available to a wider audience. We can also see here the way the royal manufactory sought to establish its reputation, and exert its power, through images as well as objects. Grape vines also had particular cultural significance, as a common symbol of fertility, plenty, and pleasure. By looking at the archives of the Manufacture Royale we might uncover more details about the original porcelain figure and how the image was used to shape perceptions of luxury goods in France at that time. Ultimately, this image reminds us that art is always embedded in social and institutional contexts.