Plate I, Tailor of Clothes, Tools by Louis-Jacques Goussier

Plate I, Tailor of Clothes, Tools by Louis-Jacques Goussier

1777

Engraving with Etching

The inner workings of an active workshop and the foundational instruments of the trade are brought to light in Plate I (1), labeled Tailleur d'Habits, Outils (Tailor of Clothes, Tools). The engraving features a bustling workshop vignette at the top, showing apprentices and master tailors cutting fabric, sewing on elevated benches, and fitting a gentleman client, while the lower section inventories specialized trade tools, including heavy cutting shears, smaller scissors, and multi-compartment thread boxes with integrated candle holders. Executed with the meticulous precision characteristic of Enlightenment technical illustration, the plate was designed to document both the physical environment and the essential implements required for professional garment production. As part of this landmark publication, the engraving reflects the eighteenth century's commitment to the systematic recording and dissemination of practical trades, human labor, and material craftsmanship.

This antique print originates from Encyclopédie, ou Dictionnaire raisonné des sciences, des arts et des métiers, the monumental reference work edited by Denis Diderot and Jean le Rond d'Alembert. Published in Paris between 1751 and 1772, the original folio edition comprised 17 volumes of text and 11 volumes of engraved plates, containing more than 72,000 articles contributed by over 140 writers, scientists, philosophers, and artisans. Conceived as a comprehensive survey of human knowledge, the Encyclopédie documented the sciences, crafts, technologies, and fine arts while also serving as a powerful vehicle for the intellectual ideals of the French Enlightenment. Its emphasis on reason, empirical inquiry, and the dissemination of knowledge challenged traditional authorities and helped shape modern thought, making it one of the most influential publications of the eighteenth century.

Dimensions: H 15” x 10 ¼” W

Condition: some foxing consistent with age