Fotoreproducties van geschilderde portretten en taferelen met Christus, engelen en onbekende mensen before 1885

This is a set of photographic reproductions, assembled into an album page, of painted portraits and scenes depicting Christ, angels, and unidentified people, made by Erche & Co. The cultural significance of this kind of assemblage resides in its implicit claim to preserve and disseminate important imagery. In the absence of a date we can only speculate, but let’s assume that the images gathered here are of older paintings which the photographer considered to be of value. The circulation of photographic reproductions had a profound effect on culture, particularly in the late 19th century, and contributed to the development of new visual languages as well as providing mass access to culturally important artworks. To fully understand the significance of an album page like this, the art historian might explore the traditions of religious imagery in Western painting, as well as the development of photography and its impact on the reproduction and circulation of images. The meaning of art, then, is contingent on social and institutional contexts.