Fotoreproductie van (vermoedelijk) een tekening van paus Leo XIII c. 1880 - 1900

This photomechanical print presents us with a reproduction of a drawing of Pope Leo XIII, and was likely made by an anonymous artist known only by the initials JD. The pontificate of Leo XIII, from 1878 to 1903, coincided with a period of immense social and political transformation throughout Europe. As the church grappled with the rise of secularism, industrialization and the emergence of new nation states, Leo XIII sought to adapt Catholic teachings to the modern world, addressing issues such as labor rights and social justice in his encyclicals. This image captures a man navigating the complexities of faith, power, and the shifting social landscape of the late 19th century. The photographic reproduction democratizes the image, allowing for wider distribution, yet flattens the textures and tones of the original drawing, turning flesh into ghostly pallor. What is gained in distribution is lost in translation. This work serves as a reminder of how the church, and powerful figures such as Pope Leo XIII, navigated the changing tides of society, attempting to maintain relevance in an era defined by progress and uncertainty.