Fotoreproductie van een prent naar een schilderij, voorstellende een zelfportret van Leonardo da Vinci before 1887

This is a photograph of a print depicting a self-portrait of Leonardo da Vinci, made by an anonymous artist. The photograph itself raises some questions about the cultural status of Leonardo as a figure, especially in the late 19th century when this image was made. We see the artist as a kind of singular genius, but that idea is partly a product of how art history has been written and promoted by institutions. How did the reproduction and circulation of his image contribute to his fame? To fully understand this work, we might consult 19th-century exhibition catalogs, art criticism, and the records of early photography studios. These sources can help us understand how Leonardo’s image was used and understood in this period.