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Direct scan of object
Femme de Ceinturier (female belt maker)
Direct scan of object

Femme de Ceinturier (female belt maker)

DateCa. 1730
Engraver Martin Engelbrecht
OriginEurope, Germany, Augsburg
MediumHand colored etching and line engraving
DimensionsOverall: 14 × 8 1/2in. (35.6 × 21.6cm) Other (plate to marks including title): 12 1/2 × 41in. (31.8 × 104.1cm) Other (plate alone): 10 1/2 × 21in. (26.7 × 53.3cm)
Credit LineMuseum Purchase
Object number1955-150,9B
DescriptionUpper right corner reads: "54"
Lower margin reads: "Femme de Cienturier./ Eine Gürtlerin./ 1. Une plaque. 1. ein Wandleüchter. 2. un unissoir. 2. ein Beckhamer. 3. un attache chemise. / 3. ein armcurt. 4. de petites ceintures. 4. Gürtlen. 5. ceinture de coureur. 5. Lauffer gurt?. 6./ une bourse. 6. ein Geldtasche. 7. boucle à ceinture. 7. Leibschnallen. 8. un Souflet. 8. ein Blasblag./ 9. boutons de Laiton. 9. Meßinge Knöpfe. 10. boutons d'Etain. 10. Zinerne Knöpfe. 11.12.13. tou/ te sorutes de Centurons. 11.12. 13. allerlen Degen gehäng. 14. un Eventail. 14. ein Windfäher./ Cum Priv. Maj./ Mart. Engelbrecht excud. 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 belt maker. She carries her wares and the tools of that on her person as follows: 1. (around face) une plaque (candle sconce...no center); 2. (in right hand) un unissoir 9small hachet); 3. (round right arm) un attache chemise (jacket belt); 4. (round left shoulder) de petites ceintures (small belts); 5. (round waist) ceinture de coureur (belt for horse); 6. (at waist) une bourse (small purse); 7. (in basket round waist) boucle a ceinture (buckles for belts); 8. (in basket round waist) un souflet (bellows); 9. (basket round waist) boutons d'Etain (pewter buttons); 11,12,13 (all in basket) toute sortes de Ceinturons (different sorts of belts; 14. (in left hand) un Eventail (fans).

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).