Fotoreproductie van een schilderij van een zieke vrouw door Jan Steen 1902

This is a photographic reproduction made by Koop Remmerts Semplonius, of a painting by Jan Steen. Photographic reproduction of paintings was a burgeoning industry in the late 19th century. This albumen print is made by coating paper with a layer of egg white and silver nitrate, rendering it light-sensitive. Exposing it to light through a negative creates a positive image. The material qualities of photography were used as a tool for art reproduction and distribution, enabling a broader audience to access artworks previously confined to private collections or distant museums. While it democratized art, it also raised questions about authenticity and the value of the original versus its mechanical reproduction. Semplonius' photograph invites us to consider the changing landscape of art and its relationship to labor, politics, and consumption in the industrial era. It challenges traditional distinctions between fine art and craft, by highlighting the reproductive technology that brought art closer to the masses.