Fotoreproductie van Pekelharing door Frans Hals before 1891

This is a photographic reproduction of Frans Hals' painting, "Pekelharing", made by Alexandre, a photographer, sometime between 1855 and 1925. The photograph’s material qualities are key to understanding its purpose. Alexandre didn’t seek to imitate the look of the painting, but to translate it through the industrial medium of photography. The paper support, coated with light-sensitive chemicals, allowed for the mechanical reproduction of Hals's brushstrokes. This process democratized access to art. Instead of traveling to see the original painting, people could encounter it in printed form. This had implications for the art market, potentially increasing demand for paintings that were widely reproduced. It also raised questions about authenticity and value. Was the photograph a mere copy, or did it possess its own artistic merit? Ultimately, Alexandre's photograph underscores how new technologies can alter our relationship with art, changing not only how we see, but what we value.