44. The balance of work
There was little machinery in preindustrial Europe and the societies shared the same work ethic based on individual responsibility and community solidarity. In these agricultural and artisanal communities, the body – human and animal – was the first and sometimes the only tool available: its skill and dependability were key assets in a precarious economy. Knowing how to economise and use its strength led to a sense of well being.
© 2015 Musée d'ethnographie, Genève
Ville de Genève, Département de la culture et du sport