The Kiss (ca. 1745)
Original title: The Kiss
kurzbeschreibung
A couple locked in a close embrace: the porcelain group Der Kuss was made around 1745 at the Meissen Manufactory. Modelled in hard-paste porcelain, the figure measures 20.3 × 25.7 × 15.2 cm.
Description
A man in a white uniform coat with gold buttons and a black cap leans toward a woman wearing a lavish dress patterned with flowers in blue, red, yellow and green, its fabric edged in gold. Both stand on a base set with small blossoms. The arrangement feels balanced and draws the eye to the kiss; vivid colours and precisely worked details define the view.
Context
Founded in 1710, the Meissen Manufactory was the first porcelain manufactory in Europe. Around the middle of the eighteenth century it produced numerous figural works with courtly and gallant subjects. Pieces like this served as table decoration or as collectibles for the nobility and the prosperous middle class. The motif of the kiss is typical of the Rococo period, placing love and closeness at its heart.
Impact
Vivid colours and careful execution capture the romantic moment. The balanced arrangement and rich ornament give the figure an air both elegant and playful; the viewer is carried back into the courtly world of the eighteenth century.
Technique
The figure was made from hard-paste porcelain, a mixture of kaolin, feldspar and quartz fired at high temperatures. The colours were applied in several layers and the piece then glazed, which produces the characteristic sheen and depth of colour. Precise modelling and fine details attest to the high craftsmanship of the Meissen Manufactory.
AI-generated description text
Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)