Zaal in het stadhuis van Regensburg 1886

This photograph of Zaal in het stadhuis van Regensburg was taken by Emil Herbst in the late 19th century, using a camera and photographic printing techniques. The image, captured on a rectangular card, depicts a well-lit hall within the Regensburg City Hall, complete with benches, windows, and decorative elements. Photographs like this one were made in multiples, and sold to tourists as mementos. The image captures a quiet moment, emptied of the labor of civic administration or debate that would normally fill this space. We see only the artifacts of these activities – the benches, the windows – all bathed in soft, even light. The photograph would have been one of many views of picturesque German sites, produced at a scale and cost that made them widely accessible. Consider this image not only as a representation, but as an object that participated in shaping the popular understanding of Regensburg. The photographic techniques used to make this artwork, are as valuable as the artwork itself, highlighting the fusion of industry and culture.