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Hinter Mauern

Fotografie in psychiatrischen Einrichtungen 1880 bis 1935

___________

A photographic approach to a life on the edge of society


Multilingual Edition (German, English)
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Title Details
Edited by Katrin Luchsinger, Stefanie Hoch
2022
Hardback
132 pages, 35 color and 66 b/w illustrations
23 x 29 cm
ISBN 978-3-03942-056-8

Many psychiatric hospitals in Switzerland house a treasure trove of historical photographs that go back to the 19th century and until now have never been studied properly. Glass slides and negatives, loose paper prints, and photo albums allow fascinating insights into the modernization of these establishments – and at the same time into the history of photography. The medium that was new at the time was used by psychiatrists to record diagnoses, as well as to show the public life behind institutional walls. Thanks to increasingly handy cameras, it was also possible to record the modest celebrations, leisure and creative activities.

Behind Walls introduces these testimonials of life and scientific practice in psychiatric institutions from the late 19th and early 20th centuries that are accessible to the public for the first time. The essays critically study the use of photography as a medium in psychiatry from different perspectives.

The book is published in conjunction with exhibitions at Sammlung Prinzhorn in Heidelberg, Germany; the Thurgauer Kunstmuseum in Warth, Switzerland; and at Schweizerisches Psychiatrie-Museum in Bern, Switzerland, in 2022 and 2023.

Echo

«Die Autor:innen eröffnen neuartige Perspektiven auf eine uns oftmals völlig fremde Welt und bringen diese den Leser:innen auf verständliche und wissenschaftlich angemessene Art und Weise näher.» Ella Angermann, Journal für Kunstgeschichte

«Die treffliche Auswahl der Fotos sowie deren hervorragende Reproduktion machen diesen Ausstellungskatalog zu einem schönen Fotobuch, die dazwischengeschalteten Artikel zu einem informativen Lesebuch.» Stefan Hächler, Berner Zeitschrift für Geschichte

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