Fotoreproductie van een prent, voorstellende een kok in een keuken met uitgestalde etenswaren before 1876

This print by an anonymous artist depicts a cook in a kitchen, surrounded by produce and raw ingredients, using the technique of photoreproduction. The stark black-and-white rendering lends a documentary feel, emphasizing the labor-intensive processes of food preparation. The cook, with his tools and ingredients, stands amidst the means of production. The composition subtly comments on the socio-economic context of the time, where the preparation and display of food were tied to class and consumption. While photoreproduction democratized image-making, the subject here remains rooted in the traditional hierarchy of labor. The print invites us to consider the amount of work involved in the production process, and to appreciate the skill and effort required to transform raw ingredients into consumable goods. It challenges our understanding of art by highlighting the intersection of craft, design, and the everyday materiality of food.