Fotoreproducties van een schilderij van Barbara van Nicomedië door mogelijk Simone Martini en portretten van leden van de familie Medici door mogelijk Cosimo Rosselli before 1866

This photograph by Gysi shows reproductions of paintings, one possibly by Simone Martini, and the other possibly by Cosimo Rosselli. The subjects are a painting of Barbara van Nicomedië and portraits of members of the Medici family. The image offers insight into the collecting habits of the late nineteenth century. Photography allowed for the easy dissemination of images, and it became common for collectors to assemble albums of photographic reproductions of artworks. These images acted as memory aids, while also forming a kind of portable museum. As photography became more widespread, it democratized access to art. No longer did one have to visit a museum or private collection to view famous works; photographic reproductions made art accessible to a wider audience, influencing popular taste and artistic styles. The Rijksmuseum's collection offers rich resources for understanding this history, including photographs, archival documents, and, of course, the paintings themselves. By studying these materials, we can better understand the changing role of art in society.