Schafgraben (Original Title) 1866

Hermann Vogel’s photograph shows a placid view of the Schafgraben, a waterway running through Berlin's Tiergarten. This albumen print, from an unknown date, offers us a glimpse into the evolving relationship between art, technology, and public space in 19th-century Germany. Note how the artist emphasizes the park's natural features, framing the scene to create a sense of tranquility and escape from the rapidly industrializing city. This aesthetic preference wasn’t accidental. The Tiergarten itself was redesigned in the 1830s by landscape architect Peter Joseph Lenné, who transformed what was formerly a royal hunting ground into a public park. Photography, in its relative newness, played a crucial role in shaping public perceptions of these spaces. Through the institutional history of collections like this one, and an understanding of the social values that underpinned the creation of public parks, we can better understand the cultural work performed by images like Vogel’s.