Minting, Rollers 1771

Curator: This print, titled "Minting, Rollers," comes to us from the hand of Robert Bénard. At first glance, it reads like a manual for some sort of fantastical clockwork device. Editor: It's fascinating how these various contraptions, rendered with such precise detail, speak to the mechanization of labor, specifically around currency. Curator: Yes, I find myself pondering the human element amidst all these gears and rollers. It's a surprisingly sterile depiction of what must have been a rather noisy, physical process. Editor: Precisely. The print almost sanitizes the labor, erasing the bodies that powered these machines, making it a commentary on the hidden costs of production. Curator: It’s a curious dance between art and utility, isn't it? Editor: Indeed. It prompts us to consider the social and economic forces that shaped both the creation and the consumption of currency—and how little has changed.