Timmerwerk en hekwerk 1768 - 1771

Jean Charles Delafosse made this print, *Timmerwerk en hekwerk*, meaning woodwork and fencing, using etching. The precision of the drawn line is palpable, showcasing carpentry and garden design motifs. The left grouping, labeled “Menuiserie” or carpentry, overflows with instruments: hammers, chisels, and a rolled-up window design. Below, a plumb bob hangs suspended, ready to ensure perfect verticality. The array of objects communicates the skill and labor involved in woodworking. On the right, “Treillage,” the French term for latticework, features more ornate imagery, including flowers and what appears to be a sword. Both groupings are carefully arranged, almost like trophies celebrating the crafts they represent. Delafosse’s work prompts us to consider how different forms of making have been historically valued. Was the labor of a carpenter or gardener regarded as highly as that of a painter or sculptor? This print invites us to think about the aesthetics and the social status of creative work.