Buste van Albert I van Monaco before 1878

This is a photographic print of a bust of Albert I of Monaco, and it’s bound within the pages of a book, perhaps a calendar or almanac. Although we can’t know for sure without seeing the original bust, its smooth, pale surface suggests it may have been carved from marble, or perhaps cast in plaster. Either way, the choice of material would have imbued the sculpture with a sense of classical authority. But of course, this image is not the object itself, but a reproduction, achieved through photographic and printing processes. It’s interesting to consider the relationship between the original artwork and this reproduction. What was lost and gained in the process? While the photograph lacks the tactile quality and three-dimensionality of the sculpture, it democratizes the image, making it accessible to a wider audience through mass production. In this way, we can see how this printed image is tied to wider social issues of labor, politics, and consumption. Understanding the materials, making, and context in which objects are created challenges traditional distinctions between fine art and craft, highlighting the social and cultural significance embedded within.