Fotoreproductie van de derde pagina van het samenwerkingscontract tussen Louis Daguerre en Nicéphore Niépce 1867

This is a photographic reproduction of the third page of a contract, inked onto paper, between Louis Daguerre and Nicéphore Niépce. The document’s creation involved a series of manual processes: the preparation of ink, the likely use of a quill, the embodied labor of handwriting, and finally its photographic reproduction, each of which imbues the paper with social and cultural significance. Paper, as a medium, carries its own history of production, from the cultivation of raw materials to the industrial processes of its manufacture. The lines and textures on the paper's surface reflect its material properties, acting as a canvas for the traces of ink. The handwriting, captured through photographic reproduction, speaks of both the skill and effort involved in its creation. It shows the embodied labor of the scribe. This document offers a glimpse into the economic underpinnings of early photography and reminds us that every artwork emerges from a web of material conditions, labor relations, and social contexts. This challenges the traditional distinctions between fine art and craft, highlighting the value of materials, making, and context.