Fotoreproductie van een schilderij, voorstellende een portret van Richard Wagner door Carl Jäger before 1878

This photographic reproduction captures a painted portrait of Richard Wagner by Carl Jäger. The image itself is made by a commercial photography studio in Munich. Photography in this era wasn’t yet a mass medium, but was on its way; a fascinating blend of craft, technology and commerce. The sepia tones and the way the light is captured gives a sense of the labour involved in the original painted portrait, before being reproduced en masse. The photographic process, while faster than painting, still required skilled technicians to operate the cameras, prepare the chemicals, and develop the prints. This commercial approach democratized access to imagery, bringing Wagner’s likeness to a wider audience. Considering this image as a reproduction allows us to reflect on photography's own claim to art, craft and design, while raising complex questions about value, authenticity, and access.