Encyclopédie, ou Dictionnaire raisonné des sciences, des arts et des métiers 1751 - 1765

This illustration from Denis Diderot's Encyclopédie, ou Dictionnaire raisonné des sciences, des arts et des métiers (1751-1765) depicts a bookbinder's workshop. The top portion of the plate shows bookbinders at work, while the bottom section provides a detailed, numbered representation of the tools and techniques involved in the bookbinding process, such as hammering, sewing, and pressing. The Encyclopédie, a collaborative project of Enlightenment thinkers, aimed to compile and disseminate knowledge from various disciplines. This plate serves as a visual testament to the Encyclopédie's ambition to document and explain the intricacies of the trades and crafts of the time, showcasing the importance of practical knowledge in 18th-century society.