Fotoreproductie van een foto door L. Rabbers, voorstellend een portret van Jozef Israëls before 1907

This is a photo reproduction of a portrait of Jozef Israëls by L. Rabbers. Though undated, we can assume it comes from the late 19th or early 20th century, a period when photography was emerging as a distinct artistic medium. The portrait is found in a book titled "Artistic Photography" which suggests a growing institutional interest in legitimizing photography as an art form, distinct from mere commercial or amateur practice. The text beside the image considers the distinction between 'art photography' and the photography of amateurs. The image then, represents a crucial moment in the history of art, when new technologies challenged existing hierarchies and definitions. To understand this moment better, we might consult photography journals, exhibition catalogs, and the writings of art critics. These resources help us appreciate how the meaning of an image is always shaped by the social and institutional context in which it circulates.