Fotoreproductie van een prent naar het portret van Saskia met een bloem door Rembrandt Harmensz. van Rijn before 1871

This photogravure reproduction of Rembrandt van Rijn’s portrait of his wife Saskia with a flower, was created by an anonymous artist, but its status as a reproduction is as important as the original portrait. Photogravure is a printmaking process using photography to transfer an image to a metal plate, which is then etched and used to make prints. Its invention in the 19th century had profound implications, accelerating the reproduction of artworks. The texture of the photogravure process lends a soft, tonal quality to the image, mimicking the light and shadow play that Rembrandt was known for. But it also highlights the democratizing effect of reproductive technologies. This image could circulate widely, bringing a semblance of the art experience to a broader audience. Consider the labor involved in the production of this artwork. Both the manual skill in the photogravure process itself, and the infrastructure of printmaking, publication, and distribution that made it accessible. It challenges our understanding of art, shifting the focus from the unique aura of the original to the social life of the copy.