Herkules mit Fell und Keule (Gedenkmünze _Extraordinaire des Guerres 1744_)

Edme Bouchardon created this drawing, "Hercules with Hide and Club," in 1744 as a design for a medal. The medium is chalk, a humble material compared to the precious metals of the finished coins. Bouchardon was a master sculptor, and his skill shines through in the delicate modeling of Hercules's muscles and the fur pelt he carries. The circular format mimics the final object, a commemorative medal intended to celebrate military campaigns. Think about the labor involved in the production of currency and commemorative objects like this. From the mining of raw materials to the skilled engraving of dies and the striking of each coin, many hands were involved. Bouchardon’s drawing, then, is only the first step in a longer manufacturing process with complex social implications. Considering the materials, making, and context of an artwork reveals its full meaning, challenging distinctions between fine art and craft.