Fotoreproductie van een prent naar een schilderij, voorstellende de Transfiguratie before 1863

This is a photoreproduction by Negretti and Zambra of a print based on a painting of the Transfiguration. Photography in this era was a powerful tool, democratizing access to iconic images, and shaping cultural perceptions. Religious art has historically been about power, about reinforcing specific ideologies regarding the relationship between the divine and the earthly. Here we see a hierarchy of bodies, where the idealized, radiant figure of Christ floats above a crowd of earthbound mortals, some of whom are partially nude. The black and white image emphasizes this contrast, but flattens the figures and equalizes their tones. This work invites us to consider how the act of reproducing art changes its meaning. How does the shift in medium affect our understanding of the original painting’s message? Does it challenge or reinforce the traditional narratives it depicts? Ultimately, this image asks us to reflect on how the circulation of images shapes our beliefs and values.