Fotoreproductie van De huisbewaarder door Antoine Wiertz before 1868

Curator: This gelatin-silver print captures Antoine Wiertz’s painting, "De huisbewaarder," or "The Caretaker" some time before 1868. The photographer here is believed to be Edmond Fierlants. Editor: Wow. Claustrophobia is the first word that comes to mind. The tight space, the downward gaze, even the limited tonal range... it's a visual compression. Curator: The photograph effectively renders the tonal subtleties of Wiertz’s original. Note how the geometric form of the "caretaker's box," creates an almost stage-like space. The figure and prop--the piece of paper--are confined and presented as though awaiting the opening of the curtains. Editor: I imagine him stewing in his own thoughts, trapped between the walls and whatever bad news is on that paper. There's an almost comedic weariness about him. His floppy hat… I think that softens the tragic feel for me, giving a very human aspect to his situation. Curator: Yes, but observe how Fierlants’ photographic strategy impacts the sense of psychological enclosure. Unlike Wiertz's looser brushstrokes, the sharp realism achieved with gelatin silver, gives the image greater weight, creating stark contrasts. It adds a level of directness to the composition. Editor: In my mind, it works perfectly for the composition. He isn't the noblest person to be spending his time in this room or the room to be spending its time with this man; the aesthetic perfectly encapsulates what I see as… "comfortable discontentment". Curator: Ultimately, this gelatin-silver print not only documented Wiertz's artistic endeavors, but also engaged in a dialogue with Realism. Editor: I find the staging and the realism both quite funny and sympathetic simultaneously. He and the picture make the perfect couple.