Design for a machine for grinding convex lenses 1500

Editor: Here we have Leonardo da Vinci’s “Design for a machine for grinding convex lenses,” created around 1500, a pen and ink drawing on paper. It’s interesting how technical it looks. What stands out to you about this piece? Curator: The drawing is fascinating because it reveals Da Vinci's engagement with the *means* of production. It’s not just about the finished lens; it's about the labor, the tools, the very act of making. Consider the social context: artisans controlled these techniques. Da Vinci’s design attempts to codify and perhaps mechanize this skill. What do you think this mechanization suggests about the shifting relationship between art and craft? Editor: It's almost like he's trying to democratize lens-making, to take it out of the hands of a select few skilled artisans by developing a machine for mass production. But wouldn't this impact the traditional modes of art creation? Curator: Precisely! We're seeing the beginnings of a shift in material culture, a move towards a different kind of artistic production tied to technology and the social implications inherent in the use of machines. How does understanding the materials and processes involved affect how you perceive Da Vinci as an artist? Is he primarily an artist, or is he something more? Editor: It blurs the lines, doesn't it? He's not just conceiving the art but also the tools to create more art. Curator: It is. It demonstrates the blurring of the line between design, craft and art in Renaissance workshops. Looking at the piece from that point of view truly illuminates the context from which it comes and opens up many avenues for the contemporary viewer. Editor: Absolutely. I've never really considered that before! Thanks for expanding my view of this drawing.