Kraters op de maan before 1900

This atlas page, "Kraters op de maan" (Craters on the Moon), by Loewy and Puiseux, offers more than just an image; it presents a convergence of science, artistry, and industrial production. Printed on paper, this spread juxtaposes a photograph of the lunar surface with hand-drawn diagrams. The photograph, made with light and chemistry, captures the moon’s rugged terrain with remarkable clarity, revealing countless impact craters. The adjacent diagram, rendered through careful drafting, abstracts and annotates these features. The image embodies industrial processes, not only in the photographic technology used to capture the image, but the printmaking process used to share it. Consider the labor involved: from the astronomers meticulously observing the moon, to the technicians developing photographic plates, to the skilled draftsmen and printers reproducing the image for mass consumption. This atlas page exemplifies how scientific inquiry and artistic representation are intertwined, produced through distinct forms of labor and expertise. It challenges us to consider the value and meaning we ascribe to different forms of making.