Wood Cutter 1742

Anne Claude Philippe Caylus made this print, *Wood Cutter*, in France. The image captures a seemingly mundane scene, yet it speaks volumes about the social fabric of the time. Caylus, a man of privilege and a member of the French aristocracy, turned his attention to the working class. Here, we see a woodcutter, a figure from the margins of society, elevated to the status of art. This reflects a growing interest in the lives of ordinary people, a theme that would gain momentum in the Enlightenment. The composition directs our gaze to the man's labour. Consider the implications of this choice. Is it an attempt to ennoble manual work, or does it reinforce existing social hierarchies by casting the worker as an object of curiosity? By researching the institutions and social structures of 18th-century France, we can better understand Caylus's motivations and the broader cultural context in which this print was created.