Gipsmodellen voor beeldhouwwerken op het Palais du Louvre: links "Le Commerce" door Gustave Crauk en rechts "Le Chasseur" door Armand Blanc c. 1855 - 1857

Edouard Baldus made this photograph of plaster models for sculptures at the Louvre. The plaster casts were likely made by skilled artisans, meticulously reproducing the artists' original designs. These processes have imbued the artwork with social and cultural significance. The use of plaster, a readily available and relatively inexpensive material, democratized access to classical sculpture, allowing for wider appreciation and study. The act of replication, while seemingly straightforward, involved a level of interpretation and skill, blurring the lines between original creation and reproduction. Baldus's photograph, in turn, captures this process of reproduction, adding another layer of mediation. By focusing on the materiality and processes involved in its creation, we can challenge the traditional art world's hierarchy, appreciating the craftsmanship and cultural significance of these often overlooked aspects of art production.