Fotoreproductie van Madonna met stoel door Rafaël 1850 - 1900

This is a photographic reproduction by Fratelli Alinari of Raphael's "Madonna with a Chair," housed in the Rijksmuseum. The image is dominated by the circular composition that frames the iconic Madonna and Child, softened by the sepia tones characteristic of early photography. The figures huddle close, with soft gradations of light and shadow which emphasize the tenderness of their embrace. In transferring a Renaissance painting to a photograph, the Alinari brothers engage with ideas of reproduction and authenticity. Walter Benjamin argued that mechanical reproduction strips the aura from an artwork. Here, the photographic process flattens the original painting's depth, reducing its unique presence. This challenges traditional ideas about art's value. The shift in medium alters our perception and invites us to question the relationship between art, technology, and cultural memory. The photograph remains a compelling intersection of art and technology, continually inviting interpretation.