Vijver in een park te Braunschweig 1893

This photogravure, entitled 'Vijver in een park te Braunschweig' was created by C. Franques. The photogravure process itself is fascinating. It begins with a copper plate, coated with a light-sensitive gelatin tissue. This is then exposed to a positive transparency of the photograph. The plate is etched, with the depth of the etch corresponding to the tones in the image, and finally, it is inked and printed onto paper. The texture and depth of the ink give the print a unique, almost three-dimensional quality. Looking at this image, we can appreciate the labor-intensive methods of production. It took specialized knowledge and skilled labor to produce this particular print, from preparing the plate to pulling the final image. The fact that this photogravure shows a public park speaks volumes of the social context of that era, reflecting the values of leisure and the public access to nature. Understanding the materials, processes, and social context helps us to understand the meaning of the artwork, and challenges traditional distinctions between photography, printmaking and fine art.