Fotoreproductie van een portret van Karel V van Habsburg (Duits keizer en koning van Spanje) before 1860

This is a photogravure by Joseph Maes, dating to the late 19th century. It reproduces a portrait of Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor, originally made by another artist. The photogravure process involves etching a photographic image onto a metal plate, which is then used for printing. This technique gained prominence in the late 1800s, as a way of mass-producing high-quality reproductions. Notice the fine lines and tonal gradations, achieved through careful manipulation of light and chemicals on the metal plate. Photogravure sits at an interesting intersection of art, technology, and commerce. It allowed for wider dissemination of images, democratizing access to art, but also transforming the aura of the original into a commodity. This print reflects the rise of visual culture, and the changing relationship between labor, artistry, and mass production. It invites us to consider the social and economic forces shaping the art world then, as now, challenging traditional notions of artistic value and authorship.