Goldsmiths' and Metalsmiths' Tools 1771

Editor: This is "Goldsmiths' and Metalsmiths' Tools" by Robert Bénard. It's an engraving, and it looks like a page from a catalog or instructional manual. I'm struck by how orderly and precise it is. What do you see in this collection of tools? Curator: I see a glimpse into the meticulously gendered labor of the 18th century. Consider the silversmith, often a male artisan, crafting luxury items for a privileged class. Who benefits from this display of tools? And whose labor is often obscured in the creation of these goods? Editor: That's a perspective I hadn't considered. It makes me think about the social hierarchy embedded in these objects. Curator: Exactly. By questioning whose stories are prioritized, we can unpack the complex power dynamics reflected even in something as seemingly straightforward as a tool catalog. Editor: This makes me think differently about how even functional art is tied to societal structures. Curator: Indeed. Art always participates in larger conversations.