Fotoreproductie van een portret van Richard Wagner door Carl Jaeger c. 1865 - 1875

This is a photographic reproduction of a portrait of Richard Wagner, originally captured by Carl Jaeger. Here, it’s been transferred to the printed page through a photomechanical process, likely sometime after the initial sitting. Consider the way photography democratized portraiture. Before, only the wealthy could afford to be captured in paint. Now, with advancements in chemistry and optics, and the division of labor in photographic studios, the cost came down. These images, reproduced and bound in albums, became testaments to both personal memory and a rapidly changing media landscape. The mass production of images had a profound effect on art making, challenging the status of unique, hand-rendered artworks. So next time you flip through an old photo album, think about the labor and technology that made these intimate glimpses into the past possible. It is a powerful reminder of the intersection of art, technology, and everyday life.