Un Boucher (butcher)

Dateca. 1720

Artist/Maker Martin Engelbrecht

MediumLine engraving and etching on laid paper with hand coloring

DimensionsOverall: 14 × 8 1/2 in (35.56 × 21.59cm)
Platemark: 12 × 8 in (30.48 × 20.32cm)

Credit LineMuseum Purchase

Object number1955-150,19A

DescriptionUpper right corner: "83"
Lower margin reads, "Un Boucher. Ein Miezger od: Fleischhaũer./ 1. Un cuir de beuf 1. ochsen haũf. 2. un quartier de veau 2. ein kalbsftũckh. 3. un hachoir. 3/ ein Stũrkheker. 4. Eclanche de mouton 4. ein Schőps keűse. 5. le fusil 5. der stahl. 6. couteau/ dans la gaine 6. Mesker. 7. la masse 7. die barkthe. 8. suif 8. Unschsitt 9. roignons. 9./ Nieren. 10. cotellettes de porc 10. Schmeinsbraten. 11. boudins 11. JBűrste 12. de la graisse 12. feiste./ 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 butcher. He carries the products of his trade on his person as follows: 1. (around neck) Un cuir de beuf (the hide of beef). Actually in this case it is the head); 2. (in left hand) un quartier de veau (leg of veal); 3. (in right hand) un hachoir (meat hachet); 4. (hanging from waist) Eclanche de mouton (shoulder of mutton); 5. (at waist) le fusil (steel to sharpen knives); 6. (at waist) couteau dans la gaine (knife in a sheath); 7. (at waist) la masse (meat hammer); 8. (on table) suif (tallow); 9. (on table) roignons (kidneys..mispelled); 10. (on table) cotellettes de porc (pork chops); 11. (on table) boudins (black pudding); 12. (on table) de la graisse (fat).

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).Mark(s)Cum Priv. Maj. Plate #83ProvenanceBefore 1955, the Old Print Shop (New York, NY); 1955-present, purchased by the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation (Williamsburg, VA).