Fotoreproductie van tien schilderijen c. 1872 - 1882

This is Johannes Jaeger’s photogravure reproduction of ten paintings, part of an illustrated catalogue from the late 19th century. These catalogues served as vital tools in shaping and disseminating artistic taste during a period when photography was transforming art appreciation. The catalogue makes accessible a range of historical works that are being re-presented here for a new audience. Notice how the photo-reproductions reduce the scale of the original paintings, mediating the viewer’s relationship to the original work. The act of reproduction transforms the aura of the paintings. The artist and publisher, Jaeger, operated within a rapidly changing art world. Photography democratized art by circulating images, but it also raised questions about authenticity, and the value of original artworks versus their mass-produced copies. Historians of art grapple with these changes by consulting archives of catalogues, periodicals, and institutional records. These provide insights into the transformation of art in the modern era.