"Culture et Arsonnage du Coton" from Diderot's Encyclopedia, Vol. I
Classification
graphic design
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
Transfer from the Cooper Union Museum Library
Accession Number
1964-26-13
About this artwork
Research in Progress
Art Historical Context
Step into the Enlightenment era with *Culture et Arsonnage duoton*, a captivating plate from Volume I of Denis Diderot's monumental *Encyclopédie* (1751–1772). Created in 1762 by French engraver Robert Bénard (1734–1772), this graphic design illustrates the cultivation and processing of cotton—a key crop fueling Europe's growing textile trade. The title evokes the labor-intensive steps from field to fiber, reflecting the encyclopedia's mission to document practical knowledge of arts, crafts, and industries for a wide audience. Bénard's precise engraving technique, typical of 18th-century scie...