Fotoreproducties van 6 geschilderde taferelen en 19 portretten van onbekende kinderen before 1885

This album features photographic reproductions of painted scenes and portraits of unknown children, produced by Erche & Co. The photomechanical process transforms paintings into reproducible images. The subjects, largely sentimental portraits of children and idyllic scenes, speak to the tastes of a specific social class, one aspiring to fine art but limited by their means, turning to photography as a more accessible medium. These miniature reproductions mimic the look of collectible cards, suggesting a broader culture of collecting and display in domestic settings. Consider the labor involved: from the original artists who created the paintings, to the photographers who captured the images, and the printers who mass-produced them. Photography democratized art, making it available to a wider audience, but also transformed artistic labor into an industrial process. By considering these elements – the materials, processes, and social context – we can appreciate the significance of this album beyond its aesthetic value.