Horlogerie en bijouterie C. Detouche te Parijs 1836 - 1912

Isaac Weissenbruch created this print of 'Horlogerie en bijouterie C. Detouche te Parijs' at an unknown date. The print depicts the facade of C. Detouche's watch and jewelry shop in Paris. Prints like this one reflect a moment in the 19th century where commerce and consumer culture were rapidly expanding. The shop is framed by allegorical figures and inset scenes of the shop's interior, emphasizing the wealth, artistry, and the trust evoked by the phrase ‘Maison de Confiance’. Weissenbruch's detailed engraving provides a glimpse into the aesthetics and aspirations of the era, but there is also the perspective of the consumer: the desire to own something of value. Consider the human element of craft and the social relations implied by the act of purchasing. The print encapsulates the dynamics of class, taste, and the emergence of modern consumerism, inviting us to reflect on our own relationships with objects of desire.