Fotoreproductie van een tekening van de kruisweg van Christus door Albrecht Dürer before 1870

This photogravure from an unknown date reproduces a drawing of Christ carrying the cross, originally by Albrecht Dürer. The original drawing was made with pen and ink, a common method at the time. The anonymous maker of this image has reproduced it through a mechanical printing process. The materiality of the final image reflects the industrial methods by which it was made. Though photogravure produces beautiful tonal variation, it necessarily flattens the sense of depth and texture evident in the original artwork. Consider the labor involved in this transition, and the way that Durer's original artistic skill has been mediated by modern industry. The original drawing would have been a unique artwork, while this photogravure is a commodity, designed for mass consumption. Paying attention to these differences helps us reflect on the distinction between art and craft, and the way that artworks exist within economic systems.