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Direct scan of object
Une Femme de Charon (female wheelwright)
Direct scan of object

Une Femme de Charon (female wheelwright)

DateCa. 1730
Engraver Martin Engelbrecht
After work by I. I. Stelzer
OriginEurope, Germany, Augsburg
MediumHand colored etching and line engraving
DimensionsOverall: 14 × 8 3/4in. (35.6 × 22.2cm) Other (plate to marks including title): 12 1/4 × 7 3/4in. (31.1 × 19.7cm) Other (plate): 10 1/4 × 7 1/4in. (26 × 18.4cm)
Credit LineMuseum Purchase
Object number1955-150,5B
DescriptionUpper right corner reads: "22"
Lower margin reads: "Une Femme de Charon./ Eine Wagnerin/ 1. un petit carosse. 2. Ein ?schel. 2. 2. roües. 2.2 Rädel. 3. une roüe de chariot. 3. ein Wagenrad. / 4. un gros foret. 4 ein Dürchler. 5. un Ciseau. 5. ein Stämeisen. 6. un Couteau à deux manches. 6./ ein Schneidanßer. 7. un foret à pierre. 7. ein Windelbohrer. 8. une hachette. 8. ein Hamer??ock Zeyl./ 9. la hache. 9. der Zeyl. 10. eine ?eiss Zange. 11. un maillet. 11. ein fuhr Schlegel. 12. un/ essieu. 12. ein ? Gifschen Ay. 13. une Scie à bois. 13. ein Walt Segen. / I.I. Stelzer fecit./ Cum Priv. Maj./ M. Engelbrecht exc. A.V."
Label TextMartin Engelbrecht’s mid-18th century publication on trades included both a male and female illustration of each trade or profession in creative ways. Though they represent the tools that tradesmen used and the products they produced, they were meant to entertain elite audiences rather than inform about the labor involved in these trades or professions.This print represents an idealized version of a wheelwright. She carries the tools of that trade on her person as follows: 1. (on head) un petit carosse ( alittle coach); 2. (on shoulders) 2 roues (wheels); 3. (round waist) une roue de chariot (wheel for chariot); 4. (from this wheel hang the tools as follows): un gros foret (a large drill); 5. un Ciseau (scissors); 6. un Couteau a deux manches (knife with 2 handles); 7. un foret a pierre (drill for stone); 8. une hachette (axe); 9. la hache (hachet); 10. des tenailles (pliers); 11. un maillet (hammer); 12. (holding in left hand) un essieu (axle-tree); 13. (holding in right hand) une Scie a bois (saw for wood).

This print is from a series of 189 engravings consisting prints featuring depictions of tradesmen in the format known as composite figures, which are human figures made up of objects. Sometimes various accoutrements or tools are cleverly incorporated into recognizable garments or even replace body parts. Each plate represents different trades by trades men and women dressed with associated tools and products. They do not represent actual tradespeople nor are they meant to suggest that women participated in these trades, though in some cases they may have.They were designed by Johann Jacob Stelzner (1706-1780), C.F. Horstman and M. Rosler. They were etched by Martin Engelbrecht ( 1684–1756). The series was published in a compilation known as, From Martin Engelbrecht, "L' Assemblage nouveau des manouvries habilles or Neu-eröffnete Sammlung der mit ihren eigenen Arbeiten und Werkzeugen eingekleideten Künstlern, Handwerkern und Professionen," (Augsburg, Germany, ca. 1730).