Card-Maker, from Encyclopédie 1762 - 1777

Benoit Louis Prevost's "Card-Maker," is a detailed engraving from the Encyclopédie, and presents us with a systematic view into the mechanization of card production. The composition is divided into two distinct registers, each densely packed with equipment rendered in precise detail. Prevost’s use of line and form transforms the depiction of labor into an exercise in geometry. The upper register shows equipment for the processing of paper. Down below, the depiction of a card-making machine becomes almost architectural in its construction. The artist is not just illustrating tools; he is presenting a spatial and systematic understanding of work. This piece reflects the Enlightenment's obsession with cataloging and understanding the world through rational means. By emphasizing the structural elements of card production, Prevost offers a visual argument for the power of systematized knowledge. The tools on display aren’t just functional objects, they are embodiments of human ingenuity and the pursuit of progress.