Schrijnwerkersgilde van Parijs, penning voor de meesters 1748

Editor: Here we have a medal titled "Schrijnwerkersgilde van Parijs, penning voor de meesters" made in 1748 by Jean Duvivier. It looks to be made of metal, maybe silver, with imagery in relief. There is something powerful about the texture of the metal and the fact that it is meant to commemorate something specific. What story does this sculpture tell? Curator: It's a fascinating piece! To understand it fully, we need to look at the socio-political context. Craft guilds in 18th century Europe were incredibly powerful institutions, weren't they? This medal isn't just decorative; it’s a symbol of that power, of a closed shop controlling not just production but also social mobility. The imagery reinforces this; what do you see on each side? Editor: One side depicts what looks like a religious scene of two figures and the other what looks like carpenters' tools under French text? Curator: Exactly. So, we have the invocation of religious authority combined with the very practical tools of the trade. This combination speaks volumes. The guild is aligning itself with both divine right and demonstrable skill. This isn’t just about woodworking; it’s about controlling access, perpetuating a hierarchy. Think about who was excluded. Were women part of these guilds? Were different races welcomed? Editor: It's strange to consider how something seemingly simple can be related to so many ideas about class and society. The role of these artisan guilds can provide some useful context when examining artwork, whether it is explicitly stated or subtly displayed. Curator: Absolutely. It encourages us to interrogate the power dynamics embedded within even the most seemingly straightforward representations. Examining objects such as these challenges us to understand society during this era, don't you think? Editor: Definitely, this piece invites a deeper exploration of how art reflects and reinforces societal structures of power and privilege.