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Couteau Collection

"Couteau: A Symbolic Tool Through Time and Art" Throughout history, the couteau has played a significant role in various aspects of human existence

Background imageCouteau Collection: A great hunting day! 1900 (engraving)

A great hunting day! 1900 (engraving)
8677949 A great hunting day! 1900 (engraving); Private Collection; (add.info.: A great hunting day! 1900 engraving by P. Malher and E)

Background imageCouteau Collection: Ainou - Ainu man, north Japan, wearing hat and decorated robe with laced shoes, fishing with a rod

Ainou - Ainu man, north Japan, wearing hat and decorated robe with laced shoes, fishing with a rod
FLO4724423 Ainou - Ainu man, north Japan, wearing hat and decorated robe with laced shoes, fishing with a rod, a knife and tobacco pipe hang from his belt - Handcoloured woodcut by F

Background imageCouteau Collection: Apothecary in his shop using a mortar and pestle to prepare a medicine

Apothecary in his shop using a mortar and pestle to prepare a medicine. Handcoloured woodcut engraving from The Book of
FLO4577808 Apothecary in his shop using a mortar and pestle to prepare a medicine. Handcoloured woodcut engraving from The Book of English Trades and Library of the Useful Arts.; (add.info)

Background imageCouteau Collection: Letter C Courage always pleases, and more than nonsense, the vile COUARDIE is rightly mocking

Letter C Courage always pleases, and more than nonsense, the vile COUARDIE is rightly mocking. Engraving in " ABC
DUV4206537 Letter C Courage always pleases, and more than nonsense, the vile COUARDIE is rightly mocking. Engraving in " ABC. Alphabet of good advice and mistakes to avoid". Ch

Background imageCouteau Collection: Machinery for making cutlery: troughs of a grinding mill, fongs for pressing knife handles

Machinery for making cutlery: troughs of a grinding mill, fongs for pressing knife handles
FLO4592064 Machinery for making cutlery: troughs of a grinding mill, fongs for pressing knife handles, pressing vice and spring drill

Background imageCouteau Collection: Currier shaving animal hides with a knife to make leather for shoes, boots, saddles, bookbindings

Currier shaving animal hides with a knife to make leather for shoes, boots, saddles, bookbindings, etc
FLO4577805 Currier shaving animal hides with a knife to make leather for shoes, boots, saddles, bookbindings, etc. Handcoloured woodcut engraving from The Book of English Trades

Background imageCouteau Collection: Surgical equipment for couching and the extraction of the cataract: Scarpa's couching needle

Surgical equipment for couching and the extraction of the cataract: Scarpa's couching needle
FLO4592972 Surgical equipment for couching and the extraction of the cataract: Scarpa's couching needle, Hey's couching needle, Pellier's hook, Richter's knife, Wenzel's knife

Background imageCouteau Collection: Surgical equipment including amputating and metacarpal saws, knives, catling, bistoury, scalpel

Surgical equipment including amputating and metacarpal saws, knives, catling, bistoury, scalpel, needle, tenaculum
FLO4592884 Surgical equipment including amputating and metacarpal saws, knives, catling, bistoury, scalpel, needle, tenaculum, bone nippers and forceps from the 19th century

Background imageCouteau Collection: Mathias Sturz fighting a bearded vulture with a knife. Handcoloured lithograph from Carl

Mathias Sturz fighting a bearded vulture with a knife. Handcoloured lithograph from Carl Hoffmann's Book of
FLO4646429 Mathias Sturz fighting a bearded vulture with a knife. Handcoloured lithograph from Carl Hoffmann's Book of the World, Stuttgart

Background imageCouteau Collection: Young comedians interpreting a scene of aggression - Theatrical performance - Japan 1880-1910

Young comedians interpreting a scene of aggression - Theatrical performance - Japan 1880-1910 - Hand coloured photo
CSO4979748 Young comedians interpreting a scene of aggression - Theatrical performance - Japan 1880-1910 - Hand coloured photo; (add.info)

Background imageCouteau Collection: Costumes from Mexico: a travelling family carrying luggage and baby on their back

Costumes from Mexico: a travelling family carrying luggage and baby on their back and a high priest with his outfit
FLO4635625 Costumes from Mexico: a travelling family carrying luggage and baby on their back and a high priest with his outfit and sacrificial knife

Background imageCouteau Collection: Weapons, musical instruments and gold accessories of the natives of the Gold Coast (Ghana), Africa

Weapons, musical instruments and gold accessories of the natives of the Gold Coast (Ghana), Africa
FLO4620082 Weapons, musical instruments and gold accessories of the natives of the Gold Coast (Ghana), Africa. Handcoloured copperplate engraving by Antonio Sasso from Giulio Ferrario's Ancient

Background imageCouteau Collection: Tools and accessories of the Indians of Brazil: animal teeth necklace, palm leaf baby holder

Tools and accessories of the Indians of Brazil: animal teeth necklace, palm leaf baby holder
FLO4635848 Tools and accessories of the Indians of Brazil: animal teeth necklace, palm leaf baby holder, wooden discs for lips and ears, bone tools, rope handle knife, woven apron, skin bag

Background imageCouteau Collection: Surgical equipment for a lithotomy: Mr. Earle's stone breaker, Mr

Surgical equipment for a lithotomy: Mr. Earle's stone breaker, Mr. Charles Bell's staff, scoop, Mr. A
FLO4592912 Surgical equipment for a lithotomy: Mr. Earle's stone breaker, Mr. Charles Bell's staff, scoop, Mr. A. Burns knife and staff, Mr. Hunter's knife, Mr. A

Background imageCouteau Collection: 16eme siecle;ange;art;Belgique ;Europe ;Bible (Livre);Bible

16eme siecle;ange;art;Belgique ;Europe ;Bible (Livre);Bible
7305473 by Coecke van Aelst, Pieter (1502-50) (studio of); Musee d'Art et d'Histoire, Narbonne, France; © Patrice Cartier. All rights reserved 2022

Background imageCouteau Collection: A noble samurzakaniot (from the Caucasus), trying his Kinghal (blade), at the bottom

A noble samurzakaniot (from the Caucasus), trying his Kinghal (blade), at the bottom
LSE4332702 A noble samurzakaniot (from the Caucasus), trying his Kinghal (blade), at the bottom, the Doukhan of Otzartze (typical hotel, restaurant, wine and grocery store). Engraving by A

Background imageCouteau Collection: Les boudins de Gripandouille - Lithography, from Theatre des marionnettes du jardin des Tuileries

Les boudins de Gripandouille - Lithography, from Theatre des marionnettes du jardin des Tuileries
LSE4088961 Les boudins de Gripandouille - Lithography, from Theatre des marionnettes du jardin des Tuileries, text and drawing by Louis Edmond Duranty (1833-1880), Paris, 1863 by Duranty

Background imageCouteau Collection: Le Vocabulaire Illustre: Couteau (a plusieurs lames); Double-bladed knife; Klingenmesser (engraving)

Le Vocabulaire Illustre: Couteau (a plusieurs lames); Double-bladed knife; Klingenmesser (engraving)
7195590 Le Vocabulaire Illustre: Couteau (a plusieurs lames); Double-bladed knife; Klingenmesser (engraving) by European School

Background imageCouteau Collection: Le Vocabulaire Illustre: Couteau; Clasp-knife; Messer (engraving)

Le Vocabulaire Illustre: Couteau; Clasp-knife; Messer (engraving)
7195589 Le Vocabulaire Illustre: Couteau; Clasp-knife; Messer (engraving) by European School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Couteau; Clasp-knife; Messer)

Background imageCouteau Collection: Cartoon of the bloodthirsty Bolshevik holding a knife between his teeth, 1919 (poster)

Cartoon of the bloodthirsty Bolshevik holding a knife between his teeth, 1919 (poster)
7211498 Cartoon of the bloodthirsty Bolshevik holding a knife between his teeth, 1919 (poster) by Barrere, Adrien (1877-1931); (add.info)

Background imageCouteau Collection: Sharpener sharpening a knife on his grinding wheel, with his clients (1819)

Sharpener sharpening a knife on his grinding wheel, with his clients (1819)
FLO4666934 Sharpener sharpening a knife on his grinding wheel, with his clients (1819). Wood engraving, based on a painting by Thomas Rowlandson (1756-1827)

Background imageCouteau Collection: The swan and the cook (Le cygne et le cuisinier) - Fables by La Fontaine

The swan and the cook (Le cygne et le cuisinier) - Fables by La Fontaine
DUV4214286 The swan and the cook (Le cygne et le cuisinier) - Fables by La Fontaine, 19th century (engraving) by Grandville (Jean Ignace Isidore Gerard) (1803-47); Private Collection; (add.info)

Background imageCouteau Collection: The taste, the hearing and the touch. Allegory of the five senses The meal of a rich

The taste, the hearing and the touch. Allegory of the five senses The meal of a rich
JLJ4597141 The taste, the hearing and the touch. Allegory of the five senses The meal of a rich family: poultry and seafood (including oysters) make up the banquet menu

Background imageCouteau Collection: Still life with oranges. Painting by Paul Gauguin (1848 - 1903), circa 1880

Still life with oranges. Painting by Paul Gauguin (1848 - 1903), circa 1880
JLJ4669682 Still life with oranges. Painting by Paul Gauguin (1848 - 1903), circa 1880. Oil on canvas. Dim: 0.33 X 0.46m. Rennes, Museum of Fine Arts by Gauguin

Background imageCouteau Collection: Relief depicting a cutlery shop (stone)

Relief depicting a cutlery shop (stone)
XIR215712 Relief depicting a cutlery shop (stone) by Roman, (2nd century AD); Museo della Civilta Romana, Rome, Italy; out of copyright

Background imageCouteau Collection: A Carpenter (woodcut) (b / w photo)

A Carpenter (woodcut) (b / w photo)
XJF140235 A Carpenter (woodcut) (b/w photo) by English School, (15th century); Private Collection; English, out of copyright

Background imageCouteau Collection: Flowers and Fruits Painting by Henri Fantin Latour (Fantin-Latour, 1836-1904). 1865

Flowers and Fruits Painting by Henri Fantin Latour (Fantin-Latour, 1836-1904). 1865
JLJ4567206 Flowers and Fruits Painting by Henri Fantin Latour (Fantin-Latour, 1836-1904). 1865. Dim 0.64 x 0.57 m. Paris, Musee d Orsay by Fantin-Latour, Henri (1836-1904); Musee d Orsay, Paris

Background imageCouteau Collection: The wolf and the lamb (Le loup et l agneau) - Fables by La Fontaine

The wolf and the lamb (Le loup et l agneau) - Fables by La Fontaine
DUV4214214 The wolf and the lamb (Le loup et l agneau) - Fables by La Fontaine, 19th century (engraving) by Grandville (Jean Ignace Isidore Gerard) (1803-47); Private Collection; (add.info)

Background imageCouteau Collection: Butcher itinerant cutting a piece of meat, said that dogs and cats attack the wheel of his

Butcher itinerant cutting a piece of meat, said that dogs and cats attack the wheel of his wheelbarrow
FLO4666939 Butcher itinerant cutting a piece of meat, said that dogs and cats attack the wheel of his wheelbarrow. Wood engraving, based on a painting by Thomas Rowlandson (1756-1827)

Background imageCouteau Collection: Le Rire rouge, Satirique en N&B, 1918_7_6 : War of 14-18: law

Le Rire rouge, Satirique en N&B, 1918_7_6 : War of 14-18: law
ICA4847892 Le Rire rouge, Satirique en N&B, 1918_7_6 : War of 14-18: law, freedom - honor and morals... according to the Prussian conception


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"Couteau: A Symbolic Tool Through Time and Art" Throughout history, the couteau has played a significant role in various aspects of human existence. From its origins in the 16th century to its presence in religious texts and European art, this versatile tool has left an indelible mark on society. In Belgium, renowned serial killer Henri Landru used a couteau as his weapon of choice, forever associating it with his heinous crimes. However, beyond this dark connection lies a world filled with beauty and creativity. The vibrant paintings of the Flemish masters showcased intricate still lifes featuring fruits like cherries, pears, grapes, and oranges. Among these depictions were often glimpses of a couteau delicately slicing through succulent produce – a testament to both culinary artistry and the bounty of nature. Religion also found solace in the symbolism of the couteau. In biblical stories such as Jesus Christ's Last Supper or Adam and Eve's fall from grace due to their consumption of forbidden fruit from the Tree of Knowledge, knives served as reminders of humanity's complex relationship with faith. Moving away from Europe but not straying far from artistic expression is Paul Gauguin's painting "Still Life with Oranges. " This masterpiece captures the essence of citrus fruits against a backdrop that exudes warmth and tranquility. The inclusion of a knife hints at both practicality - for peeling or sectioning oranges - and adds depth to an already captivating composition. Beyond its association with food preparation or religious narratives lies another facet: craftsmanship. Engravings depict double-bladed knives designed for specific purposes while clasp-knives offer convenience on-the-go. These illustrations showcase how innovation meets functionality throughout different cultures across time. Even cartoons have utilized knives symbolically; Bolshevik propaganda posters depicted bloodthirsty revolutionaries brandishing blades between their teeth—a chilling reminder that violence can lurk within political movements.