Fotoalbum met 57 foto's van kunstwerken, voornamelijk in het Vaticaan 1857 - 1920

This photo album, now in the Rijksmuseum, contains 57 photographs of artworks, mainly in the Vatican. Though we don't know who made it or exactly when, its materials and construction tell a compelling story. Bound in a rich red fabric with leather trim, the album itself is a crafted object. Its substantial size and robust binding suggest it was made to last, a vessel for preserving precious images. Photography, still a relatively new technology at the time, was quickly becoming a tool for documentation and dissemination of culture. This album reflects a growing desire to capture and share artistic treasures. Consider the labor involved: from the harvesting of materials to the binding of the album, and the photographic process itself. It all speaks to the increasing commodification of art and the rise of a visual culture that made masterpieces accessible to a wider audience. Albums like this blur the lines between art, craft, and commerce, reminding us that how things are made shapes their meaning.