Gezicht op de maan met rechts van het midden de Archimedes before 1887

This is an image of the moon, featuring the Archimedes crater, by Henry Frères. This image comes to us from a time of great scientific advancement, with photography offering new ways of seeing and understanding the universe. In the 19th century, photography was often seen as objective, but let's consider how even images like this one are shaped by human perspectives. What did it mean to look at the moon through the lens of the time? How did prevailing ideas about progress and discovery influence the way such images were made and interpreted? The photograph, and the scientific gaze it represents, invite us to reflect on our place in the cosmos, and how cultural values can shape our understanding of the world.