Fotoreproductie van een getekend portret van een zittend kind 1880 - 1920

This reproduction of a drawn portrait of a seated child was made by Léon Bichon. Photography was just coming into its own as a popular medium at the time this portrait was made, but photographic technology was not yet advanced enough to capture details as subtly as a skilled artist could by hand, so mixing the two media, photography and drawing, offered an interesting solution. What we see here is a hybrid object, a photograph that has been enhanced by hand, which speaks to the growing accessibility of photography, even as it underscores the enduring value placed on handcraft and traditional artistic skill. Look closely, and you can see the drawn lines, likely made with pencil or ink, that add definition to the child's face, clothing, and the surrounding environment. It represents a fascinating intersection of technology, art, and social values, capturing a moment in time while also reflecting the cultural norms and aesthetic preferences of the era. This challenges our contemporary assumption that photography is purely a documentary medium, revealing its early association with fine art.