Marmeren buste van burgemeester Andries de Graeff door Artus Quellin 1876

This is a reproduction of a marble bust of Mayor Andries de Graeff by Artus Quellin, captured in a photograph by Pieter Oosterhuis. The original sculpture, presumably carved with chisels and rasps, transforms cold stone into the likeness of a powerful man. Marble, favored for its smooth texture and luminous quality, has long been associated with wealth and status. The choice of this material speaks to the sitter's prominence, but also reflects the labor-intensive processes required to extract, transport, and carve it. Oosterhuis's photograph flattens Quellin's three-dimensional sculpture back into two dimensions. The photograph's monochrome palette mutes the marble's natural variations. Here, photography, a relatively new technology in the 19th century, democratizes access to fine art, making it available for study and appreciation. Ultimately, examining both the sculpture and the photograph of it invites reflection on the interplay between artistic skill, social status, and technological innovation, blurring the lines between craft, art, and reproduction.