Fotoreproductie van een geschilderd portret van Sybilla van Kleef door Lucas Cranach I before 1860

This photogravure by Edmond Fierlants captures a painted portrait of Sybilla van Cleef, presenting a study in tonal contrast and composed form. The sepia tones create a subdued yet striking image where the sitter's face emerges from the darker background, framed by the crisp white lines of her headdress and collar. Fierlants translates the painted medium into a photographic one, revealing the underlying structure of portraiture itself. The textures of the fabric and the subtle gradations of light and shadow give depth to the figure, while the flatness inherent in photography emphasizes the geometric simplicity of the composition. The artwork plays with authenticity and representation, questioning the boundaries between painting and photography, original and copy. Ultimately, the print invites us to consider how an image can transform across different media, each with its own aesthetic language and cultural significance. It highlights the complexities of visual representation, challenging fixed notions of identity, art, and meaning.