Augustium en de Paulijnse Kerk in Leipzig 1860 - 1870

Charles Gaudin created this stereoscopic image of the Augusteum and Paulinerkirche in Leipzig with photography. Stereoscopic images like this were popular at the time, creating an illusion of depth and reality. Here, we see the Augusteum, part of the University of Leipzig, and the Paulinerkirche, a church connected to the university. The photo presents a specific view of German institutional architecture. The Augusteum, with its classical facade, represents the importance of education and enlightenment, while the adjacent church suggests the intertwined relationship between religious and academic life in 19th-century Germany. This image, made for mass consumption, reflects and reinforces the values of the society it depicts. Understanding this image requires historical context, including the history of the University of Leipzig and its role in German society. By consulting archives and historical documents, we can gain a deeper understanding of how the photographer presents the social values of his time.