Fotoreproductie van twee ontwerptekeningen van een injectie cilinder en tractor before 1867

B. Crolet created this photoreproduction of two design drawings of an injection cylinder and tractor at an unknown date. We know very little about Crolet, so it’s difficult to place him socially. However, we can consider how industrialization and technological advancement have shaped society. The industrial revolution dramatically altered gendered labor roles; men were often associated with mechanical and technical expertise, while women were relegated to domestic roles. The design of machinery like tractors embodies a celebration of masculine prowess and the changing landscape of work. Here we see the machine as an idea, a concept, a ghost of a thing. These design drawings offer insights into gendered roles, mechanical progress, and the transformation of labor during a period of industrial change. They encourage us to reflect on how technology shapes not only our work, but our identities.