Fotoreproductie van de prent Ridder, Dood en Duivel door Albrecht Dürer before 1870

This photographic reproduction captures Albrecht Dürer’s iconic engraving, “Knight, Death and the Devil”. Though the original artwork wasn't made with traditional art materials, its reproduction involved a complex alchemy of chemical processes. The photomechanical printing process allowed for the mass dissemination of images, and had a profound impact on society. This reproduction shows how the distribution of art changed with advancements in technology. It democratized access to art, and transformed the relationship between the artist, the artwork, and the public. Think about the labor involved in both the original engraving and the photographic reproduction. Dürer’s meticulous craftsmanship and the skilled labor needed to create a photographic print each point to an economy of visual production in the age of mechanical reproduction, and the relationship between art, industry, and society. This reproduction invites us to consider the social and cultural impact of art, and it's dissemination in our contemporary world.