Fotograaf fotografeert dansende dieren 1880 - 1900

Alfred Ronner made this etching, "Fotograaf fotografeert dansende dieren", which translates to "Photographer photographs dancing animals", sometime in the late 19th century. The image depicts a photographer, complete with top hat and cumbersome camera, trying to capture a group of animals mid-dance. In the late 1800s, photography was becoming more accessible, but it was still a far cry from the instant snapshots we take for granted today. This etching cleverly comments on photography's role in capturing and, perhaps, staging reality. In many ways, this piece is a reflection on the artifice inherent in both photography and the broader art world. Made in Belgium, the image hints at the growth of middle-class culture in Europe. Did the rise of the bourgeoisie change the way artists saw themselves and the world? Understanding this piece means delving into the history of photography and printmaking, and also the social changes that transformed European society in the 19th century.