Wapenfabriek te Nouzonville, ca. 1702 1702 - 1703

This engraving, made around 1702 by an anonymous artist, depicts the Wapenfabriek, or arms factory, in Nouzonville. Consider the visual codes at play here. This isn’t merely a representation of a factory; it’s a statement of power. The precision, the detail – every building, every waterway meticulously rendered – speaks to the growing importance of industrial production in early 18th-century France and its connection to military might. Factories like this were critical to the war efforts of Louis XIV. The image presents the factory as an ordered, rational space, efficiently churning out the tools of war. To fully understand this image, we delve into the socio-political context of the time. Historical records, military archives, and economic studies can reveal the impact of such factories on society. By understanding the conditions that shaped the creation of this image, we can better appreciate its role in shaping perceptions of power, industry, and war.