Fotoreproductie van een tekening, voorstellende Duessa brengt Sansjoy naar de onderwereld before 1871

This photomechanical print reproduces a drawing of Duessa bringing Sansjoy to the underworld. The original image, now lost to time, would have been rendered in either pencil or ink, likely by an anonymous artist. The printmaking process itself transforms the tones and textures of the original drawing. The dark, velvety blacks and crisp lines are translated into a more mechanical, repeatable image. This process democratizes art, making it accessible to a wider audience. The very act of reproduction speaks to the broader social context of print culture at the time. It reflects a desire to disseminate images and stories, contributing to a shared visual language. By understanding the material process of photomechanical printing, we recognize the social function of art and challenge traditional notions of authorship and originality.