Man op een paard before 1889

This anonymous image of a man on horseback comes from a printed book. Though seemingly simple, the photographic image is the result of complex processes, and its appearance relies on the materiality of ink and paper. The image would have begun with a photographic negative, likely captured on a glass plate. It was then transferred to a printing plate. The image was etched into the surface of the plate, which was then inked and pressed onto paper. This reproductive process allowed the same image to be multiplied across thousands of books, giving it a wide circulation. The choice of paper stock – its weight, texture, and finish – also influences how we perceive the photograph. Books like this circulated ideas about horsemanship to new audiences, and were part of the growth of a capitalist economy based on mass production and the global distribution of knowledge. The ‘work’ behind the image is less about a single artistic gesture and more about the division of labor necessary for producing and distributing it. The book form is a reminder that even seemingly straightforward images are embedded in complex social and economic systems.