Fotoreproductie van een gravure van het interieur van de Goldener Saal van het stadhuis in Augsburg 1855 - 1875

This is a photographic reproduction of an engraving of the Goldener Saal in Augsburg town hall, made by Ferdinand Brauer. The image renders the interior space in fine lines, painstakingly cut into a metal plate. Think about the labor involved: first the hall itself, richly decorated with carvings and frescoes. Then, the engraver’s patient work of translation, mimicking the architectural space. The image is not just a record, but an interpretation. Brauer has selectively emphasized certain details, exaggerating the play of light across the room, the density of the ornamentation. The contrast between the static architecture and the blurry figures animates the image with life. Photography democratized image production. Suddenly, such scenes could be captured without the need for such a skilled hand, and reproduced endlessly, a true industrialization of aesthetics. The photograph’s claim to mechanical objectivity challenges the artist’s subjective interpretation. Looking closely reveals so much about the hierarchies of skill, taste, and value that shaped its making.