Twee mannen aan een machine voor het slijpen van spiegels 1747

Frans de Bakker's engraving depicts two men operating a mirror-grinding machine. The print offers a glimpse into 18th-century labor practices, when advancements in manufacturing began to alter the scale of production. The act of grinding mirrors, essential for both personal reflection and scientific instruments, was a labor-intensive task. These workers, likely from the lower strata of society, played a critical role in this industry. Their coordinated efforts at the machine highlight both human agency and the relentless demands of emerging technologies. De Bakker's image, with its stark lines and technical detail, invites reflection on labor, class, and the human body in an age marked by both progress and exploitation. It reminds us that every reflection, every image, carries the weight of unseen hands.