The Work of Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction

The Work of Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction (1935) is a pioneering examination of how mechanical reproduction – particularly via photography and film – transformed the nature, value, and perception of art. It explores the concept of the "aura" of a work of art and how this aura diminishes in a reproduced work.

• Art history students
• Modern artists and critics
• Scholars interested in media theory

Walter Benjamin was a German author, critic, and philosopher associated with the Frankfurt School of critical theory. Known for his insightful analyses of culture and philosophy, Benjamin’s works continue to influence a broad range of academic fields, from cultural studies to media theory.