Technische tekening 1761

This technical drawing was made by Abraham Delfos in the 18th century, using ink on paper. Rather than fine art materials, these are the tools of the workshop, used to plan large-scale fabrication. Here, Delfos meticulously illustrates complex machinery; it is not immediately apparent what the machine is supposed to do. It is clear that this is about industry and engineering. It has the precision and attention to detail that you might find in a botanical study. But this isn’t about nature, it’s about the harnessing of nature. Delfos presents the inner workings, laying bare its components and construction. The drawing makes visible the intelligence and labor embedded in the design of the machine. By elevating the status of craft and engineering through such careful rendering, Delfos invites us to see the beauty and ingenuity in these under-appreciated fields. In doing so, he blurs the lines between art, technology, and the world of work.