Landschap met waterpartij before 1898

This is a photogravure print by J. Sneyers, titled "Landschap met waterpartij". The image comes from an early photographic process, where the picture is etched into a copper plate, then printed in ink. The result has a velvety texture and a wide range of tones. This process depended on both the artist and the printing technician. Each had specific skills, which shows how labor was divided in the making of art at the time. Notice how the photogravure captures the stillness of the water and the delicate reflections of the trees. It is a beautiful landscape, yet we must remember that the image is also the result of multiple processes, reflecting the social and technological context of its time. It prompts us to consider photography not just as an art form, but as a mode of production.