Knife Sharpener 1742

Anne Claude Philippe Caylus created this print titled 'Knife Sharpener' at an unknown date, using etching. It encapsulates the social fabric of 18th-century France through its depiction of a common tradesman. The image presents a knife sharpener, presumably from Auvergne given the inscription "Gagne petit Auvergnat," engaged in his labor. This print provides insight into the working class and their daily lives. Caylus, himself an aristocrat, presents a romanticized view of the working man. This image is a typical character study, reminiscent of others produced at the time by the French aristocracy. Institutions such as the French Royal Academy encouraged such imagery that emphasized social hierarchy. To truly understand this artwork, one must delve into archival records, social histories, and even literary sources that describe the lives of ordinary people in 18th-century France. This method allows the art historian to contextualize the work within its original socio-economic framework.