Fotoreproductie van een tekening, voorstellende een portret van Girolamo Savonarola before 1890

This is a photo reproduction of a drawing depicting Girolamo Savonarola, made by an anonymous artist. Reproductions like this one are interesting because they highlight the changing role of images, and their relationship to broader social and political contexts. The original drawing, a handmade object, would have had a limited audience, but this photo reproduction allowed for wider distribution of the image. Think about the labour involved in creating the original drawing – the skill and time required to capture Savonarola’s likeness. The photo reproduction streamlines this process, making it easier and cheaper to disseminate the image, and think about the impact of this shift on artistic practices. It democratizes art, making it accessible to a wider audience. At the same time, consider the implications for artistic labor, and the changing value of the handmade in an age of mechanical reproduction. By considering the materials and processes of this artwork, we can see how it reflects broader changes in society and culture, blurring the lines between art, craft, and mass production.