Fotoreproductie van vier portretten van Siciliaanse brigards door Giuseppe Incorpora, verkleind 1887 - 1888

Marinus Pieter Filbri created this photographic reproduction of Giuseppe Incorpora's portraits of Sicilian brigands, using an analogue process to render a miniature array of faces. The sepia tones and the rigid grid format give us an insight into the way identity was being catalogued and controlled. Each portrait, framed within an oval, presents an individual, yet the reduction in scale and the uniformity of presentation serve to classify these figures into a collective, almost as specimens in a scientific study. The textural quality of early photography is palpable, with the grain and tonal range creating a sense of depth that invites contemplation. The portraits function as signs, not just of individual identities, but of broader social and political narratives. They embody a visual code that speaks to issues of power, representation and the construction of the 'other'. This work challenges us to consider how photographic practices can both capture and manipulate our perceptions, engaging with cultural and philosophical dialogues about truth, evidence, and the gaze.