Single figure Female Figure Bal paré II

With her figurine, Meissen artist Silvia Klöde (*1956) draws on the time-honored tradition of the bal paré -the festive masquerade ball-and reinterprets it in a modern visual language. In the 18th century, masquerades and redoutes were among the most popular courtly entertainments in Europe. Elaborately designed costumes, exotic disguises, and the playful switching of roles characterized these festivities and, at the same time, inspired numerous artists and porcelain sculptors.

Amid completely changed social conditions, Silvia Klöde developed her "Bal paré" interpretation for Meissen porcelain in 1990-91. Unlike the historical groups of figures, she focuses on a single female figure-the "woman par excellence." Through different color schemes and various sculptural embellishments, the artist personalized this basic motif. Thus, the work combines the historical tradition of Meissen's festive and masked depictions with a contemporary, self-assured interpretation of the female figure.