Polish handkiss 1739 - 1749

Curator: I'm drawn to the stillness of this piece. There’s a certain frozen moment of courtly behavior on display, and it almost feels performative, like a scene from a play. Editor: Indeed. What you're describing captures something essential. We’re looking at a porcelain sculpture crafted between 1739 and 1749 by the Meissen Manufactory titled "Polish Handkiss." Curator: “Polish Handkiss” … It certainly seems a world away from today's norms. Can you tell me a bit more about its context? Editor: Certainly. This work is a beautiful example of Rococo aesthetics and genre painting rendered in miniature. It portrays a man bowing to kiss the hand of a woman. The symbolism runs deep when viewed through the lens of social and political power at the time. The handkiss itself signals deference, marking clear societal hierarchy, and gender roles are on display as well. Curator: And that is visible in the detail given to their garments and features, almost meticulously crafted. I suppose the kiss is like a gesture, that once performed holds and carries a certain power and influence across society? The image also contains certain universal symbols like a flower and a dog to portray affection. I'm reminded of the elaborate court rituals, like exaggerated politeness concealing potentially aggressive intent. Editor: Precisely. Think about how those little flowers beneath their feet also reflect notions of delicacy and fleeting beauty, commonly tied to femininity in that era. Even the material itself—delicate porcelain—reinforces ideas around class, status, and fragility. To look deeper at the characters' positioning in the sculpture is an understanding of control and power at the highest level. Curator: A carefully constructed facade… that makes me question the real emotions underneath. The gestures almost seem theatrical now, meant for display rather than sincere connection. It's very telling about social control through gestures, almost ritualistic behaviors that became almost codified. Editor: It's in how these kinds of symbols communicate over long stretches of time. Even as the meanings and assumptions embedded within a work such as “Polish Handkiss” change, the underlying human issues and tensions remain recognizable. Curator: Looking at this from a slightly different perspective I can now say it reflects that interplay between individual feeling and larger, cultural forces. Editor: Agreed. The beauty of engaging with historical works lies in exploring those enduring threads, to realize how we inherit history while constantly re-evaluating its meaning.