Fotoreproductie van een tekening van een roedel axisherten before 1880

This photograph of axis deer, likely taken in India, was reproduced by Nicholas & Co. sometime in the 19th century. It is a photomechanical reproduction of a drawing, and that immediately raises interesting questions. Why reproduce a drawing, when the photographic technology existed to capture the image directly? The answer may lie in the cultural associations of drawing as a skilled practice. Photography was still new at this time, and perhaps seen as less artistic, less refined. The engraver has translated the scene into a series of delicate lines, lending the image an air of artistry. This reproduction also speaks to the rise of mass media and the industrialization of image-making. The photograph could be reproduced in multiples, making it accessible to a wider audience, and sold at a profit. The images could then be distributed widely, catering to the growing demand for visual imagery in a rapidly changing world. The intersection of photography and mass production transformed the way people perceived the world around them.