Fotoreproductie van een portret van William FitzWilliam, graaf van Southampton, door Hans Holbein before 1877

This is an anonymous photo reproduction of a portrait drawing of William Fitzwilliam, Earl of Southampton, after Hans Holbein. The original would have been made with drawing chalk on paper, whereas this reproduction is photographic, likely made using a photomechanical process that would have reproduced the original drawing in ink. The material of the reproduction, and the process of image making, influences its appearance. The red chalk of the original drawing would have had a natural softness and warmth; the photomechanical reproduction flattens this out, resulting in a more graphic quality. The texture of the original paper is also lost in translation. Holbein was an important figure in the history of portraiture, and his drawings were highly sought after by collectors. Reproductions like this allowed a wider audience to appreciate his work, and to own a version of the image. They remind us that the status of an artwork is not just about its unique material presence, but also about its circulation in society.