Chinoiserie group 1750 - 1755

Editor: We’re looking at “Chinoiserie group” made around 1750 to 1755 by the Derby Porcelain Manufactory. It’s porcelain. I am immediately drawn to its sculptural qualities, even in this monochrome rendering. What strikes you about the composition? Curator: I focus on the arrangement of forms and how they articulate space. The tension between the figures' gestures – one expansive, the other contained – creates a dynamic visual relationship. Note how the drapery folds contribute to the overall sense of movement, drawing the eye across the surface of the work. What do you observe about the base and its relationship to the figures? Editor: It appears like they’re seated on an almost cloud-like formation. Does this imply something symbolic about the scene? Curator: We can consider that beyond direct symbolism. Look at how that base, that swirling mound, serves as a counterpoint to the angularity of the figures. It is a conscious design choice meant to generate dynamism and maintain the observer’s attention on a three-dimensional artwork, yes? Do you find this tension successful, considering how the colour enhances each separate element? Editor: I see your point. The swirling base gives it that lift. Without it, the figures would appear static. And monochrome puts into full display how it has been conceived from start to end as an integrated whole. It makes one focus solely on its internal articulation and execution. Curator: Indeed. It shows how paying attention to an artwork’s formal properties offers an opportunity for richer reading. Editor: I agree. I hadn’t fully appreciated the importance of that interplay of shapes until now!