Boutonnier, Faiseur de Moules 1751 - 1772

This print, made by A.J. Defehrt in the 1700's, depicts the tools used to produce molds for buttons. It invites us to think about the labor and materials involved in even the smallest everyday objects. Notice the various wooden implements: saws, vices, and lathes. The large wheels, connected by belts, would have been hand-cranked, a testament to the physical effort required. These tools aren't exactly high-tech; they represent a pre-industrial mode of production, where skill and human power were paramount. The image highlights the craft involved in making molds, essential for the mass production of buttons. It reflects a society on the cusp of industrialization, where handcraft and nascent manufacturing coexisted. By focusing on the means of production, Defehrt's image prompts us to consider the social context of even the humblest objects, bridging the gap between the artwork, the artisan, and the world of commerce.