Stilleven met konijn c. 1880 - 1900

This evocative still life was produced by diverse makers, using photographic processes. Here, the materiality of photography confronts the raw reality of a rabbit, suspended upside down and presented against a hand-painted backdrop. This juxtaposition reveals much about 19th-century society, its relationship to the natural world, and the emerging industrial means of image production. The image captures a moment where older traditions of hunting and food preparation meet the industrialized world of photography. The softness of the rabbit's fur is rendered in stark contrast to the sharp focus of the lens. The print itself, with its sepia tones and tangible texture, becomes a testament to the craft involved in early photography. Considering the means of production helps us understand the photograph as more than a simple representation. It is a cultural artifact, reflecting a society grappling with changing relationships between nature, labor, and consumption. The photograph challenges the traditional distinctions between high art and the everyday.