Maan Possibly 1865

This plate features a photogravure of the moon as observed and recorded by Lewis M. Rutherford. The print is striking due to the stark contrast between the solid blacks of space and the varied greys of the moon's surface. This tonal range creates a sense of depth and texture, almost as if one could reach out and touch the craters. Rutherford's rendering is deeply influenced by positivist thought, which sought to codify knowledge through empirical observation. The image embraces the new medium of photography to promote the concept of objective truth. Each crater, valley, and shadow is presented as empirical data, a collection of visual information from which scientific understanding can be constructed. The photograph offers an understanding of both form and structure; one sees not only the aesthetic form of a celestial body but also the structural composition of a lunar landscape shaped by geological forces. Ultimately, the photogravure functions as both a scientific document and a testament to human perception, which invites ongoing re-interpretation of our place within the cosmos.