Fotoreproductie van foto door Warren de la Rue van vlekken op de maan 1887 - 1888

This is a photographic reproduction by Marinus Pieter Filbri of an earlier photograph by Warren de la Rue showing spots on the moon. Made in the late 19th century, this image participates in a broad cultural shift in how we understand the universe, moving away from pure speculation towards empirically verifiable observations. Photography, in its early days, was seen as uniquely suited to capturing objective truth, free from human interpretation. Institutions such as the Royal Astronomical Society, of which de la Rue was president, sought to use the new medium to further scientific knowledge and disseminate it to a wider public. The image's stark contrast and grainy texture reflect the limitations of early photographic technology. The reproduction itself raises questions about authenticity and the role of the artist in an age of mechanical reproduction. As art historians, we can investigate the relationship between scientific advancement, artistic practice, and the evolving role of institutions in shaping our understanding of the cosmos. By studying archival materials, we can gain insight into the complex interplay between art, science, and society in this period.