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Unusual for its intimacy, this group is one of a small number of figurines that depict men and women in seemingly everyday activities. Upon closer examination, the groups—depicting ear-cleaning, wine-drinking, smoking lessons, and music lessons—reveal a veiled eroticism. This example shows a man with bare foot extended having a pedicure. The glimpse offered of the young woman’s bare leg is a suggestive element, as nakedness was taboo. Her exposed bound foot was considered particularly erotic. Even the way in which the man wears his queue, wrapped around his head, is seen as improper. Though made primarily for export, it is believed these scenes must also have held some interest within the domestic market. Back |
Chinese Couple, 1750–70, China. Porcelain. |