Fotoreproductie van een prent van het drieluik de Kruisafneming naar Peter Paul Rubens 1858 - 1866

This is a photographic reproduction of a print of a triptych, 'The Descent from the Cross' after Peter Paul Rubens. Though the photographer and the date are unknown, this image speaks to the institutionalization of art historical knowledge. Here, the art of Rubens, a celebrated figure of the Flemish Baroque, is mediated through multiple layers of reproduction. First, Rubens’s original painting is translated into a print, making it accessible to a wider audience beyond the church in Antwerp where the painting was displayed. Secondly, the print is captured in a photograph. The circulation of such images facilitated the study of art history, as students and scholars could analyze and compare artworks from different locations without traveling to see the originals. The Rijksmuseum’s acquisition and preservation of this photograph highlights the evolving role of museums in shaping and disseminating art historical narratives. To fully understand this image, one might delve into the history of printmaking, photography, and the development of art history as an academic discipline.