Portrait of Joseph Marie Jacquard (1752–1834) c. 19th century

This is François Carquillat’s portrait of Joseph Marie Jacquard, made sometime in the 19th century. Jacquard, a silk weaver and merchant, invented the Jacquard loom in 1801, changing the textile industry forever. The portrait captures Jacquard in a moment of reflection; his gaze is thoughtful, perhaps even melancholic. But what does it mean to memorialize Jacquard, a man whose invention automated labor? How do we reconcile celebrating innovation that simultaneously advances technology and displaces workers? What stories are left untold in this image? Who is missing from the narrative? The textile industry relied on the labor of countless unnamed workers, many of whom were women and children. Jacquard's invention increased production, but also intensified the exploitation of laborers. This portrait invites us to consider the complex relationship between progress, labor, and human cost.