Un Tailleur (tailor)

DateCa. 1730

Engraver Martin Engelbrecht

MediumHand colored black and white line engraving on laid paper

DimensionsO: 14" X 8 1/2"; plate to marks including title: 11 3/4" X 7 3/4"; picutre alone: 10 1/2" X 7 1/3"

Credit LineMuseum Purchase

Object number1955-150,20A

DescriptionUn Tailleur is the tailor. He carries the tools of his trade on his person as follows (titles in old German also): 1. (on his head) Rubans (ribbons); 2. Boutons massifs d'or (buttons of gold); 3. (around his neck) des Ciseaux (scissors); 4. (in his right coat pocket) mesures (measures); 5. (in his left coat pocket) pieces (patches); 6. (in his left hand) l'aulne (measuring stick); 7. (on the measuring stick) fil et soie (silk threads); 8. (on the measuring stick) careau (iron); 9. (in his right hand) rodingotte (frock coat); 10. (on his left arm) manteaux (cloak); 11. (on his shoes) des poicons (a punch).

Very bottom part of lower margin reads, C.P.X.C. Maj. Plate is numbered 85.
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 tailor.

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).