Altaar voor Sint Theodorus in de kathedraal van Luik, België before 1896

Editor: This image showcases an old collotype print titled "Altaar voor Sint Theodorus in de kathedraal van Luik, België," dating back to before 1896, by Joseph Casier. I'm struck by how meticulously detailed the altar is, even in this two-dimensional representation. The contrast between the ornate structure and the flat presentation is quite interesting. How do you interpret this work through a formal lens? Curator: The strength of this print resides in its textural contrast. Note the elaborate and detailed carving in the altarpiece depicted through a high contrast photographic process. The texture is then flattened into a two dimensional object that resides within the texture of the pages on display. The photograph invites the viewer to contemplate how volume becomes surface. Editor: So you're focusing on the materiality and form as a subject. Does the print medium alter the essence of the original altar in any significant way, or reveal something new? Curator: Absolutely. By converting the three-dimensional altar into a collotype print, Casier reframes our perception. We are invited to look closer to better understand. This piece can be better appreciated by examining the contrast within a singular artistic work and can alter ones perspective of the photograph. The reduction to monochrome further simplifies the visual experience, emphasizing form over the polychromatic reality of the altar itself. Editor: That’s fascinating; I hadn’t considered how the transformation in media draws attention to specific qualities like form and texture. It’s like the print offers a distilled, analytical view of the original artwork. Curator: Precisely. By focusing on these formal qualities, we can better understand how an object becomes art and an architectural becomes design. Editor: I see how analyzing the formal aspects of the print leads to deeper insight of the actual Altar itself! Curator: Indeed. Approaching the work this way allows us appreciate the conversation between image and architecture on multiple levels.