Kraters op de maan before 1898

This is a lithograph of the moon’s surface, entitled *Kraters op de maan*, by Loewy et Puiseux. Science and art were uneasy bedfellows in this era, often reflecting and reinforcing the power dynamics inherent in systems of knowledge and representation. In the 19th century, science was evolving rapidly, fueled by colonial expansion, and this image participates in that moment. What do you think about when looking at this image of the moon? Maybe the sheer audacity of humankind's desire to look out into space and name what it sees? The black and white lithograph aesthetic lends the work a stark contrast, emphasizing the surface of the moon in an objective way. It highlights the moon as a blank canvas for exploration and discovery, imbued with the dreams, ambitions, and sometimes, the imperial fantasies of the era. It suggests a desire to chart the unknown, and perhaps, to claim it. The moon, like the photograph, becomes a space for reflection, inviting us to consider not only what we see, but how we see, and why.