Trappenhuis van het Collegium Carolinum te Braunschweig 1892

This is an image of the staircase of the Collegium Carolinum in Braunschweig, recorded by J. Schombardt. It's rendered in tones of gray, suggesting a printmaking process – perhaps lithography or early photography. What interests me most is the subject. The staircase is a study in contrasts, using a hard material – probably stone or plaster – to create soft, flowing lines. The wrought iron bannister is more overtly ornamental. The overall impression is one of upward movement, of course, yet also of careful construction, reflecting the skilled labor required to build the space. In this way, the image captures a key moment in the history of labor. The Collegium Carolinum was a site of technical education, where students would have learned skills necessary for industrializing Germany. The print preserves this history of the hand and the mind.