Kaart van het nieuwe kanaal van Pontgouin naar Versailles (deel II), 1726 1726

Editor: Here we have an engraving from 1726, “Kaart van het nieuwe kanaal van Pontgouin naar Versailles (deel II)” or "Map of the new canal from Pontgouin to Versailles (part II)", anonymous of course, held at the Rijksmuseum. It's delicate, but very informative... almost like an architectural drawing? What is striking to you? Curator: As a materialist, I see not just a map, but a record of labor. This engraving documents an ambitious engineering project: the canal. Who built it? What tools did they use? Were these laborers celebrated, or exploited? The very creation of the map itself involves labour – the engraver's skill in translating this vision into a reproducible format. The materials, the copper plate, the ink, the paper; all contribute to the narrative of its making and its social context. Editor: So you’re focusing on the physical creation rather than what the map represents? I guess the "means of production," so to speak. Curator: Precisely! Consider the purpose of this map. Was it solely informational? Or was it also a form of propaganda, showcasing the power of the French monarchy and their ability to reshape the landscape? The choice of engraving – a reproducible medium – also suggests an intent to disseminate this message widely. Editor: Interesting. So you see the materials and techniques used as crucial elements in understanding the power structures at play? Curator: Exactly. The 'high art' of Baroque design merges here with the practical needs of infrastructure and, in turn, becomes another element of that machine. What processes facilitated this creation, and who had control over them? The labour, materials, distribution -- that tells us much more than lines and names. Editor: I see it now. Looking at it from that angle brings up many aspects that I missed. Curator: Every artistic creation emerges from complex systems of labor and materials. Appreciating the process gives depth to our understanding of what at first might look like only a pretty drawing!