Fotoreproductie van het schilderij 'Séance du 16 juin 1877' door Benjamin Ulmann before 1884

This is a reproduction of the painting 'Séance du 16 juin 1877' by Benjamin Ulmann. The stark contrast between the book's open pages creates a compelling formal arrangement. The left page features a contemplative figure, rendered with delicate lines, while the right page displays a photograph of the painting itself, a dense assembly of figures within a grand hall. The photograph, with its monochromatic palette, emphasizes the geometric architecture of the space and the compressed perspective of the crowd. This interplay between line drawing and photographic representation highlights the structural elements of both images. The architectural setting of the painting, captured in the photograph, invites us to consider how space and form define social and political events. Consider how the juxtaposition challenges our reading of the event. The formal arrangement implies the weight of history, suggesting that the very structure of representation carries ideological implications.