Bomen in de sneeuw before 1898

'Bomen in de sneeuw' (Trees in the Snow) is a black and white print by P. Lecyloë. The process looks like a photograph, or a photogravure – that is, an image created using light-sensitive materials on a metal plate, then etched and printed. The choice of this medium is critical. Rather than a hand-drawn or painted image, we have one made through a mechanical process. This was a relatively new technology in Lecyloë's time, part of a wider embrace of industrial means. Photography in particular was considered by many to be a democratic art form, allowing for the wide dissemination of images. However, we should also note the immense amount of labor that went into its production: the harvesting and processing of the paper; the mining of the metals used for the printing plate; the labor of the printer themselves. All these elements have contributed to the artwork’s social and cultural significance. By considering materials, making, and context, we can understand the full meaning of ‘Bomen in de sneeuw,’ challenging traditional distinctions between fine art and craft.