Mozaïek van een heilige en een Korinthisch kapiteel van de San Marco in Venetië before 1884

This photographic print of a mosaic and Corinthian capital in Venice’s San Marco, was created by Carl Heinrich Jacobi in the 19th century. Though not made of traditional art materials, the photographic process involves its own kind of skilled craft. Think about what’s involved in making the mosaic, each tessera carefully placed to create an image from a distance. It is a slow, painstaking process requiring many hands, each playing a crucial role. The labor is quite literally built into the image. The same is true of the Corinthian capital. Look at the carved acanthus leaves, which reflect an artisan’s time, skill, and expertise. The photograph itself, as a mode of documentation, further abstracts the labor of the mosaic and capital into an easily reproducible image. It is a commodity divorced from the physical effort of creation. Considering the materials, processes, and context of art challenges traditional distinctions between fine art and craft, deepening our understanding.