Photographic Deception: A History of Image Manipulation

From early photocollages to modern AI-generated fakes, the art of manipulating photographs has a long and storied past.

Apr. 17, 2026 at 9:08am

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An abstract, highly structured painting in soft, earthy tones, featuring sweeping geometric arcs, concentric circles, and precise spirals, representing the complex evolution of photographic deception over time.A conceptual visualization of the long and storied history of photographic manipulation, from early photocollages to modern AI-generated fakes.Los Angeles Today

A new exhibition at the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam, titled "FAKE! Early Photocollages and Photomontages," explores the history of image manipulation dating back to the 1860s. The show features dozens of works that distort or disrupt photographic images in creative ways, highlighting how the inherent malleability of photography was recognized and exploited from the medium's earliest days. The exhibition traces the evolution of photographic trickery, from amateur experiments in the 19th century to the mass-produced "Exaggeration" or "Tall Tale" postcards of the early 20th century, and the politically charged photomontages of artists like John Heartfield in the 1930s. While these manipulated images were often obvious to viewers at the time, the show serves as a timely reminder that the ability to create convincing photographic fakes is nothing new, even as modern AI tools push the boundaries of what's possible.

Why it matters

The exhibition highlights how the manipulation of photographic images has been an integral part of the medium's history, challenging the notion that the rise of AI-generated "deepfakes" is a wholly new phenomenon. By tracing this long lineage of photographic deception, the show encourages viewers to think critically about the trustworthiness of images and the ways in which they can be used to shape public opinion, both historically and in the present day.

The details

The exhibition features a wide range of manipulated photographs, from early photocollages and photomontages to mass-produced postcards and political propaganda. Some of the works on display include a surreal image of a man pushing a wheelbarrow laden with a giant replica of his own head, and a postcard depicting an early aviation display in Los Angeles that appears to be a seamless montage. The show also highlights the work of Parisian photographer Eugène Appert, who created a series of staged images during the Paris Commune to inflame anti-Communard sentiment, as well as the politically charged photomontages of German artist John Heartfield, which satirized Hitler and the Nazi party.

  • The exhibition at the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam opened in April 2026.
  • The works on display date from 1860 to 1940.

The players

Rijksmuseum

The national museum of the Netherlands, located in Amsterdam, which is hosting the "FAKE!" exhibition.

Eugène Appert

A Parisian portrait photographer who created a series of staged images during the Paris Commune in 1871 to inflame anti-Communard sentiment.

John Heartfield

A German artist who created politically charged photomontages for the left-wing Arbeiter-Illustrierte-Zeitung (Workers' Illustrated Newspaper) in the 1930s, ruthlessly satirizing Hitler and the Nazi party.

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The takeaway

The "FAKE!" exhibition serves as a timely reminder that the manipulation of photographic images is not a new phenomenon, but rather an integral part of the medium's history. As modern AI tools push the boundaries of what's possible, the show encourages viewers to think critically about the trustworthiness of images and the ways in which they can be used to shape public opinion, both in the past and in the present day.