Reproductie van een verluchting van drie heiligen before 1864

Franz Kellerhoven created this reproduction of a medieval illumination in the 19th century. It appears to be made with some kind of printmaking process. The fine lines and precise registration of colors suggest lithography, a technique that allowed for relatively inexpensive and accurate replication of complex designs. Consider how the method used influences the image itself. Lithography enabled the distribution of detailed, colorful images to a wider audience than the original illuminated manuscripts, which were painstakingly hand-painted. The texture and weight of the print differ significantly from the feel of vellum or parchment. Kellerhoven’s choice of lithography speaks to the changing social context of art in the 19th century. The work makes manuscript illumination—previously accessible only to a select few—available to the public, reflecting a shift toward mass production and consumption. This reproduction democratizes access to historical art, blurring traditional distinctions between original and copy, fine art and craft.