Deel van de sterrenhemel before 1891

This image is of a book, opened to reveal a photograph of the night sky. It seems the picture was made through long exposure; we see a multitude of stars, faint and bright, against the dark ground. The book itself is important here. It shows the artist's engagement with a knowledge system, literally bound and printed. Consider the labor involved: not only the artist's photographic work, but also the papermakers, printers, binders – all those who contributed to the volume's physical existence. The materiality of the photograph also matters. Before digital media, light was captured on treated surfaces, typically glass or paper. It was an alchemical process, requiring patience and precision. This early photographic technique is itself a form of craft. By bringing together photography and the form of the book, this artist asks us to consider how we come to know the world, and how the act of making is always deeply intertwined with culture and meaning.