Fotoreproductie van De zelfmoord door Antoine Wiertz before 1868

This photographic reproduction of Antoine Wiertz's "The Suicide" was made by Edmond Fierlants. It is a small print, likely made using albumen paper, a process that was widely adopted in the 19th century for its ability to produce detailed and stable images. The albumen process involves coating paper with egg white and then sensitizing it with silver nitrate. When exposed to light through a negative, the image gradually appears. The resulting print has a distinctive sepia tone and a glossy surface, which you can observe here. What is significant is that photography democratized access to art. Reproductions like this allowed people to experience famous paintings without visiting museums. The process itself was industrializing, with factories producing chemicals and materials. Photography became an increasingly accessible method for documentation, and a medium for artistic expression. Examining this print prompts us to reflect on the broader impact of reproduction technologies on art, labor and society. It challenges traditional distinctions between art and craft.