[Copy of the head of Christ from Leonardo da Vinci's “The Last Supper”] 1857 - 1861

Léon Gérard made this photograph of a section of Leonardo da Vinci's "The Last Supper," sometime in the 19th century. The photographic medium captures a unique tonal range and surface texture, which invites us to consider the artwork's materiality and structure. The image displays the head of Christ, rendered in soft focus with closed eyes. Gérard’s artistic process brings forward the subtle interplay between light and shadow. The textural details are emphasized, and the formal elements such as line, form and composition, highlight the emotional depth of the original painting. Here, the artwork questions fixed meanings, prompting contemplation on themes of representation and interpretation. Gérard destabilizes the established meaning of the iconic image by extracting a fragment and altering its form. The formal qualities of the artwork function as part of a larger cultural and philosophical discourse, encouraging an ongoing interpretation of a familiar image.