Raamwerk en agricultuur 1768 - 1771

"Raamwerk en agricultuur," or Framework and Agriculture, was created by Jean Charles Delafosse in the 18th century. It presents two distinct yet connected allegorical representations of labor and sustenance during the Enlightenment. On the left, carpentry, or "La Charpente," is symbolized by tools and an image of a beaver, perhaps nodding to the animal's industrious nature. Juxtaposed, we see "L'Agriculture," depicted with sheaves of wheat, grapes, and a watering can. These elements speak to the agrarian lifestyle which underpinned much of society. But let's think critically about what isn't shown. Who wields these tools? Whose labor tames the land? The artist does not include the working classes, who were typically anonymous and rendered invisible. The elite class of the time consumed the fruits of their labor, while the labor remained unseen. Delafosse's print invites us to reflect on the romanticized ideals of work and the often obscured realities of those who perform it.