Gezicht op een altaarstuk in de Sint-Nicolaaskapel in Compiègne, Frankrijk before 1895

This is a print by Jules Royer, depicting the altarpiece of the Saint-Nicolas Chapel in Compiègne, France. The print is made using photogravure, a process which creates an image using light-sensitive gelatin tissue and copper plates, capturing the tonal subtleties of the original artwork. The image portrays a carved wooden altarpiece, a tour-de-force of carpentry and sculpture. The dark wood from which it is crafted, with its complex articulation, would have required immense labor and skill. The original altarpiece would have involved specialized woodworkers, carvers, and finishers, all contributing to its fabrication. This print mediates the experience of the original altarpiece, translating a monumental work of craft into a mass-produced image. This democratization of access challenges the traditional art hierarchy, where unique, handcrafted objects were valued above all. Royer’s print invites us to consider how the value and experience of art transforms through different modes of production and consumption.