Standbeeld van Jacques de Vaucanson te Grenoble, Frankrijk 1860 - 1890

This photograph shows a statue of Jacques de Vaucanson in Grenoble, France, created by an anonymous artist. Vaucanson, an 18th-century French inventor, was celebrated for his automata – self-operating machines that mimicked life. This monument, likely erected well after his death, embodies a period enamored with technological progress and the Enlightenment ideals of reason and innovation. Yet, such celebrations often obscure the labor and social conditions that enable progress. Consider how the very notion of 'progress' can be intertwined with social hierarchies. Who benefits from technological advancement, and whose contributions are erased? The presence of horse-drawn carriages in the photograph suggests a society in transition, where older modes of transport coexist with emerging technologies. Think about what stories are told, and whose stories are left out of the narrative. How do monuments shape public memory? As you consider this image, reflect on the complexities of progress.