Fotoreproductie van een schilderij van het goed en het kwaad in een voorkamer door Willem Linnig (II) before 1896

This is Alexandre van Antro's photogravure after Willem Linnig (II)'s painting, showing a room interior. Photogravure is an intaglio printmaking process, using a copper plate that has been photographically exposed and etched. The beauty of photogravure is in its tonal range, which is evident here in the rendering of light across the domestic scene. The texture of the copper plate itself, minutely pitted with the etching process, adds a tactile dimension to the image that parallels the texture and feel of Linnig’s original painting. What does it mean to reproduce a painting through this laborious printmaking technique? The decision speaks to the value attributed to the image. The photogravure process requires considerable skill and time, highlighting the value of craft in the creation of art. This approach challenges traditional hierarchies, demonstrating how an artistic image could be circulated beyond painting, and reach new audiences through print.