Omslag voor Livre des differentes éspeces d'oiseaux de la Chine 1742 - 1750

This cover for Livre des differentes éspeces d'oiseaux de la Chine, was created by Gabriel Huquier, likely in the mid-18th century. Its primary material is paper, which has aged to a uniform brown tone. Paper, even seemingly simple paper like this, has a fascinating story to tell. Consider the material’s transformation. From plant fibers, carefully processed, pressed, and dried, it becomes a surface for art. The texture, weight, and color all bear witness to these processes. The visible creases and marks hint at its history, its use, and perhaps, its travels. Paper production was a major industry by the 1700s, with different grades and qualities reflecting social status and economic exchange. When looking at this humble cover, let’s remember that the value lies not just in the art it protects, but in the material itself. It challenges the hierarchy that often places 'fine art' above the everyday materials of craft and industry.