DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.41191#0033
allow me to finish this discourse: at any rate they
are somewhat complicated* But the question as to
which set of workmen produced the better work
can be answered with little complication* The
machine workman had to be well skilled in his
contemptible task at least, the slave to the machine
needs but little skill, and, as a matter of fact, his
place has been taken by women and children, and
what skill is needed in the work goes to the over/
looking of the labours of these latter* In short, the
present system of the factory and its dominating
machine tends to do away with skilled labour
altogether*
H ere, then, is a strange contrast, which I most
seriously invite you to consider,between the crafts-
man of the Middle Ages and him of to/day. The
mediaeval man sets to work at his own time, in his
own house; probably makes his tool, instrument,
or simple machine himself, even before he gets on
to his web, or his lump of clay, or what not* What
ornament there shall be on his finished work he
himself determines, & his mind & hand designs
it & carries it out; tradition, that is to say the minds
and thoughts of all workmen gone before, this, in
its concrete form of the custom of his craft, does
indeed guide and help him; otherwise he is free*
Normustweforgetthateven if he lives in atown,
the fields and sweet country come close up to his
house, and he at whiles occupies himself in work/
ing in them, & more than once or twice in his life
e 25
Lecture IV*
Architecture
and History.
are somewhat complicated* But the question as to
which set of workmen produced the better work
can be answered with little complication* The
machine workman had to be well skilled in his
contemptible task at least, the slave to the machine
needs but little skill, and, as a matter of fact, his
place has been taken by women and children, and
what skill is needed in the work goes to the over/
looking of the labours of these latter* In short, the
present system of the factory and its dominating
machine tends to do away with skilled labour
altogether*
H ere, then, is a strange contrast, which I most
seriously invite you to consider,between the crafts-
man of the Middle Ages and him of to/day. The
mediaeval man sets to work at his own time, in his
own house; probably makes his tool, instrument,
or simple machine himself, even before he gets on
to his web, or his lump of clay, or what not* What
ornament there shall be on his finished work he
himself determines, & his mind & hand designs
it & carries it out; tradition, that is to say the minds
and thoughts of all workmen gone before, this, in
its concrete form of the custom of his craft, does
indeed guide and help him; otherwise he is free*
Normustweforgetthateven if he lives in atown,
the fields and sweet country come close up to his
house, and he at whiles occupies himself in work/
ing in them, & more than once or twice in his life
e 25
Lecture IV*
Architecture
and History.