Preview
Upload Date
10-22-2025
Department
Classics
Label Text
This striking porcelain figurine of a young man, standing almost half a foot tall, captures attention with its bold colors, dynamic movement, and intricate detail. The figure's coat is a vivid mix of blue and pink, a sharp contrast against the pure white of his pants and skin. He stands on a faux-marble circular base with a partially broken column behind him. Swirling gold designs are repeated on the base which shares pigment with the coat buttons, hat, belt, and other accessories, lavishly decorating the piece. He appears to be checking the time on a watch held up to his face.
The figure's compelling presence, particularly the dynamic pose with an out-turned foot and arms crossed over the chest, provides a blueprint for my creative work. While the original societal values of blue and gold for the maker are unknown, their combination today powerfully communicates opulence and nobility. The sheer amount of shimmering gold and the richness of the vibrant blue create a combination I see as both traditional in its elegance and strikingly luxurious, a compelling pairing. The masterful details such as the delicate holes in the lace coat cuffs and the subtle, life-giving red blush on the lips and pale cheeks all serve to enhance this perception. By increasing the saturation of the blue and enhancing the luster of the gold in my interpretation, I aim to focus the viewer on this powerful visual duality of the colors, which articulates the figure's inherent tenseness and elevated status. The lightening of the blue helps to further expose its beauty. Who is this distinguished gentleman?
Camera Settings: Aperture
f/16
Camera Settings: Shutter Speed
1/4
Camera Settings: ISO
100
Lighting
2 portable lights and one overhead LED light
Photoshop Adjustments
Red Primary Hue +100, saturation -100, Green Primary Hue -100, Blue Primary Hue -100, Lights -25, temp, 4900, tint +25, vibrance -100, saturation +100
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 License.
Found in
ADC study collections