Fotoreproductie van een schilderij, voorstellende Christus wordt door Longinus in zijn zij gestoken met een speer before 1888

This is a photogravure reproduction of a painting, depicting Christ being pierced with a spear by Longinus. It is an anonymous work now held at the Rijksmuseum. Photogravure is an intaglio printmaking process, using a photographic image etched into a metal plate. The image is exposed onto the plate, which is then etched with acid to varying depths, creating an image capable of holding ink. It is a mechanised process, that arose in the mid-19th century. With the advent of industrialisation, this image-making process allowed for the mass production of images, making them available to a wider audience. This reproduction speaks to the democratisation of art through mechanical reproduction. The subject matter, Christ's crucifixion, is imbued with the themes of sacrifice and redemption. The use of photogravure also raises questions about the value and authenticity of art in the age of mechanical reproduction. Was the goal to make art more accessible, or to devalue the skill and labour involved in the original artwork?