Reproductie van een gravure van een portret van Jan Gossaert door Johannes Wierix before 1877

This is a reproduction of a portrait of Jan Gossaert by Johannes Wierix, made into a print by Joseph Maes, who lived between 1838 and 1908. As a reproduction, this print mediates between the original artwork and its audience, reflecting how artistic legacy is sustained and reinterpreted through generations. Maes, working in the 19th century, revisits Wierix's earlier engraving of Gossaert, thereby entering a dialogue across time. Consider how such reproduction democratizes art, making it accessible beyond elite circles, yet also alters the aura of the original work. The act of reproduction inevitably transforms the artwork's meaning, shifting its cultural and historical context. What does it mean to represent an artist through another artist's lens, across different eras? How does this layered process shape our understanding of identity and artistic influence?