Vijf jongens op straat in Algiers, Algerije before 1893

This is one page of Jules Gervais-Courtellemont's book depicting five boys on a street in Algiers. It was created through a printing process, likely involving engraving or lithography, to reproduce the artist's original drawing. The material quality of the print – its crisp lines and tonal variations – shapes our perception, offering a glimpse into Algerian street life through the artist's eyes. The process is significant; printing allowed for mass distribution, shaping the colonial gaze and informing perceptions of Algeria in Europe. Consider the labor involved, from the artist's hand to the skilled work of the printmaker and the labor of producing paper and ink. The book itself becomes a commodity, circulating images and ideas within a specific social and economic context. By examining the materials and processes of its making, we understand the work's broader social significance and challenge conventional boundaries between fine art and the world of production.