Castle St Ulrich, France 1050

Castle St Ulrich, in France, was constructed out of stone sometime between the 11th and 13th centuries by Romanesque artisans. The pale red hue of the stone influences the appearance of the fortress, endowing it with a warm and sturdy presence. This reflects a time when the skilled labor of quarrymen, masons, and builders was highly valued. The entire process, from extracting the stone to shaping and assembling it, would have required a combination of physical strength, knowledge, and craftsmanship. This includes traditions of building, and knowledge of engineering. The sheer scale and solid materiality of Castle St Ulrich speaks volumes about the immense labor involved in its creation, and its purpose in society. It is a place built by the laboring classes, for the ruling classes. When we consider the skill, labor, and social context that went into Castle St Ulrich, we gain a deeper understanding of its full meaning. It challenges the traditional distinctions between fine art, craft, and the socio-political context in which it was created.