Fotoreproductie van een schilderij van een engel met brandende fakkel en lauwertak c. 1865 - 1900

Laurens Lodewijk Kleijn produced this photogravure, measuring 210 by 130 mm, of a painting depicting an angel. The angel, wings outstretched, holds a burning torch in one hand and a laurel branch in the other. The composition centres on the angel, whose figure emerges from a hazy, undefined background. The limited tonal range of the photogravure emphasizes the contrast between light and shadow, creating a sense of depth and ethereal quality. Kleijn’s rendering of the angel captures a moment of dynamic movement, enhanced by the flowing lines of her drapery. The angel as a symbol of light and triumph, holding both a torch and a laurel branch, suggests themes of enlightenment and victory. This could be interpreted within the context of 19th-century Romanticism, where such allegorical figures were used to embody ideals of beauty, truth, and freedom. The photogravure technique itself, which translates the painted image into a reproducible form, speaks to broader cultural shifts in the dissemination and interpretation of art.