Fotoreproductie van foto door Warren de la Rue van vlekken op de maan 1887 - 1888

This photographic reproduction of a photo of the moon was created by Marinus Pieter Filbri, using photographic techniques that were cutting-edge at the time. Consider the alchemical processes involved in early photography, where light-sensitive materials are manipulated to capture an image. The process speaks to an impulse to understand the cosmos through the relatively new medium of photography. The photograph is grainy, highlighting the limitations of the materials at the time. Think about the labor involved, from preparing the photographic plates to the careful development process, each step requiring precision and skill. Filbri, as the image taker, had to develop an expertise through the manipulation of materials and techniques. Yet, the photo also suggests the increasing industrialization of image-making processes, with the rise of commercial photography and mass reproduction. Looking at the photograph today, we should appreciate its importance, not just as a scientific document, but also as evidence of the social conditions of its production, where science and industry were becoming intertwined.