Botten en kies van kleine herten (vermoedelijk) before 1869

This is a printed page, one of a series, depicting bones and a tooth of small deer, likely from an archeological dig site. The book, titled ‘La Seine aux âges anté-historiques’ - or the Seine in pre-historic times - is dedicated to the history of the river Seine, and the ancient objects that it held. What makes this image so compelling is the way it treats the bones and tooth as objects of scientific study and documentation. The processes of excavation, classification, and representation are all evident here. The remains have been carefully arranged on a neutral background, numbered, and photographed to capture their form and texture. We often think of objects as emerging from the Industrial Revolution, and the rise of mass production. But in fact, classification is itself a form of production. The care taken in the preparation of this image is a demonstration of the value that was placed on these artifacts and the knowledge they could provide. By presenting these objects in a scientific manner, the producers of the book aim to elevate them from mere bones to significant cultural artifacts.