Fotoreproductie van In afwachting door Antoine Wiertz before 1868

This is a photographic reproduction of a painting by Antoine Wiertz, made by Edmond Fierlants in the mid-19th century. Photography was a relatively new medium at this time, offering a novel way to capture and disseminate images. Consider the qualities of the photograph itself: the paper, the chemicals used to develop the image, and the mechanical process of its production. The monochromatic tones give the image a stark, almost clinical feel, a contrast to the richness and texture typically associated with painting. Photography democratized image-making, making art more accessible. This process inherently involves labor – from the photographer setting up the shot, to the workers involved in manufacturing photographic materials. By reproducing an existing artwork, Fierlants also raises questions about originality, authenticity, and the role of mechanical reproduction in shaping our understanding of art. It challenges traditional hierarchies between the original artwork and its copies, urging us to think about the changing value of images in an age of mass production.