Rijksmuseum Amsterdam

Do you remember the viral image of Pope Francis in a striking white down jacket from 2023? It was later found to be generated by the AI tool Midjourney. With fake images and videos saturating the internet, a new exhibit at the Rijksmuseum delves into the historical manipulation of photographs since the advent of the medium.

Featuring prominently in this exhibit is the extraordinary image of a giant ear of corn (above), captured by W.H. Martin in 1908 as part of a fascinating series of postcards showcasing oversized crops and livestock. Martin would cut and paste his scenes before reshooting new images, showcasing innovative photographic techniques for the time.

This incredible work is part of the exhibition fake! Early Photo Collages and Photo Montages, which is on display at the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam until May 25th. Below is a pre-1908 photomontage postcard depicting a futuristic New York where cars can soar above the skyline. The color was added later, slightly altering the contours to give a painterly effect despite being a photograph.

The Rijksmuseum notes that photographers began utilizing cut-and-paste techniques as early as 1860. This exhibition showcases the evolution of image manipulation leading up to World War II.

Next, we see a peculiar image of a wheelbarrow with an oversized head, crafted between 1900 and 1910.

The fascination with oversized crops culminates once more in a 1908 postcard featuring geese, dwarfed by their human companions, congregating at a market.