Twee gezichten op de Notre-Dame te Parijs before 1886

These two views of the Notre-Dame in Paris, were created by an anonymous artist through a printing process. This method involves photography and industrial printing, both relatively new technologies at the time, reflecting a shift towards mass production and visual culture. The sharp monochrome images on paper reveal the cathedral from different perspectives, inviting reflection on the intersection of art and industrialization. The making of prints like these speaks to a new kind of labor, moving away from traditional artistic skill towards mechanical reproduction, altering the perception and accessibility of art in society. Consider how the shift from handmade to mechanically produced imagery democratizes art, as these printed images reach wider audiences beyond the elite, changing our understanding of the value and purpose of art, craft, and labor.