Boeddhistische priester tijdens het gebed before 1900

This image of a Buddhist priest in prayer is an anonymous work, printed on paper. Notice the layering of information here, as the photographic image is transferred to the printed page. Think about the technologies involved. The photographer, the printer, and the publisher – all essential to making this image accessible. It is this combination of photographic and printing techniques which has imbued the artwork with its social and cultural significance. The photograph has been captured with a camera; the printmaking techniques, tools, and skilled traditions engaged with belong to histories of creative practices and aesthetics, alongside that of craft and fine arts. The amount of work involved in the production process, from the taking of the photograph to its appearance in this book, ties it to wider social issues of labor, politics, and consumption. This serves as a reminder that the materials, making, and context involved are key to fully understanding an artwork, and challenge traditional distinctions between fine art and craft.