Landweg bij avond met dorpelingen 1850 - 1904

Emile Frédéric Salmon created this print, “Landweg bij avond met dorpelingen,” using a photogravure technique. This intaglio process, involving a copper plate, is notable for its ability to reproduce the tonal range of a photograph with remarkable fidelity. Look closely at the image, and you’ll notice the richness of texture, from the rough, earthy path to the soft, flowing garments of the villagers. Photogravure, in this context, moves beyond mere reproduction, becoming a medium for artistic expression itself. The process necessitates a skilled hand, transforming an image into a crafted object, bearing the marks of labor and time. What we see in the finished print is an intimate record of labor and everyday life. By focusing on photogravure's material and making process, we recognize that it is a labor-intensive process, which brings the work closer to the realm of craft. This challenges the traditional distinctions between fine art and more utilitarian forms of production.