Fotoreproductie van het schilderij Mars ontvangt de wapens van Venus en Vulcanus door Thomas Willeboirts Bosschaert c. 1885 - 1900

This is a photographic reproduction of the painting ‘Mars Receives the Weapons of Venus and Vulcanus’ by Thomas Willeboirts Bosschaert, currently held at the Rijksmuseum. Though the photographer remains anonymous, the image serves as a fascinating artifact which highlights the cultural and artistic values of its time. In this mythological scene, we see Venus offering arms to Mars, a narrative steeped in the gendered politics of love and war. Venus, goddess of love, is typically disarmed by the god of war; the photograph captures a moment when gender roles are in flux. The black and white medium strips the painting of its original color, altering its emotional tone and creating distance. What does it mean when the passion of painting is translated into the cool distance of the photographic image? Photographic reproductions democratized art, making it accessible to wider audiences. They also stripped away the hand of the artist, and raise questions about authenticity and value. Consider how the photograph extends the life and reach of the painting, and its impact on art history itself.