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Otto Schmidt's Pioneering "Viennese Types" (1873) Photography Exhibition in Vienna

Explore Otto Schmidt's 1873 photographic series, translating traditional Viennese folk types into early portraiture.

Discover Otto Schmidt's "Viennese Types" (1873), a pioneering photographic exhibition capturing traditional Viennese folk characters. This groundbreaking series provides insights into early photographic practices and 19th-century social representation in Vienna. Explore how artists used both genuine subjects and staged portraits with actors and historical costumes.

About Otto Schmidts „Wiener Typen“ (1873) at Clock Museum in Vienna

Read curatorial context and practical visitor information for Otto Schmidts „Wiener Typen“ (1873) at Clock Museum in Vienna

Exhibition summary

This collection, titled 'Otto Schmidts „Wiener Typen“ (1873)', showcases the first photographic series to translate the traditional Viennese 'folk types' into photography. Published in the 1870s, these images aimed for vivid accuracy, though some subjects were staged with actors and costumes.

Curatorial context

Otto Schmidts „Wiener Typen“, published in the 1870s by A. F. Czihak, represents a significant early attempt to transfer the long-standing tradition of depicting Viennese 'folk types' from graphic prints to photography. This series builds upon a repertoire of figures extending back to the 18th century and continuously expanded. Contemporary writers like Friedrich Schlögl praised the 'lively fidelity' of these photographs. However, closer examination reveals that some of the purported 'Viennese originals' were portrayed by actors, dressed in costumes from the archives, and photographed against varied studio backdrops, offering a nuanced perspective on authenticity in early photographic portraiture. The collection features numerous individual works, each presenting a distinct Viennese character. These include figures such as 'Unser Hausmeister' (Our Caretaker), 'Fiaker, fahr' mer Euer Gnad'n' (Cabman, drive Your Grace), 'Sicherheitswache' (Security Guard), 'Hundeverkäufer am Graben' (Dog Seller on the Graben), 'Orangenverkäufer' (Orange Seller), 'Schusterbub' (Shoemaker's Boy), 'Lumpensammlerin' (Ragpicker), 'Pfannenflicker' (Pan Mender), 'Werkelmann' (Street Organ Grinder), 'Stubenmäd'l' (Maid), and 'Dienstmänner' (Service Men). Each photograph, dated to 1873, offers a glimpse into the social fabric and archetypes of Vienna during that period, mediated through the lens of early photographic practices and theatrical staging.

Otto Schmidts „Wiener Typen“ (1873) key exhibition facts

Review exhibition status, schedule, venue context, and attribution details for Otto Schmidts „Wiener Typen“ (1873) at Clock Museum in Vienna

Venue
Clock Museum
Current status
Open now
Exhibition schedule
Information not currently available
Artist line / attribution
Photography by Otto Schmidt, published by Adolf F. Czihak.
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