From ramparts to riches: A photographic history of Luxembourg City
Exhibition charts the history of Luxembourg City, showing change across the centuries but also how much has stayed the same
A photo by Theo Mey of picnickers at Fort Thüngen, a site that today also features the Mudam museum and nearby European institutions Photo: Photothèque
To continue Luxembourg City's celebration of 25 years of UNESCO heritage, the Photothèque has delved deep into its archives, presenting an exhibition that highlights the city's historic evolution through photography dating back as far as 1859.
Currently showing in Cercle Cité's Ratskeller gallery on Rue du Curé, the Photothèque's exhibition – The City of Luxembourg, from fortress to UNESCO World Heritage Site – focuses on the evolution of the city's historic old quarters, fortifications, buildings and other structures that can be found within the World Heritage site.
The photographs selected for the exhibition pictures taken by renowned photographers such as Pol Aschman, Pierre Bertogne, Charles Bernhoeft, Marc Betzen, Pierre Brandebourg, Batty Fischer, Auguste Jungblut, Tony Krier, Dominique Kuhn, Edouard Kutter Jr., Théo Mey, Marcel Schroeder, Lé Sibenaler and Charles Soubry.
Placing these works side-by-side, the Photothèque creates a timeline showcasing how the city progressed from a fortress with limited space for expansion to a burgeoning urban environment.
The photos document the construction of iconic landmarks such as the Clausen viaduct and the Adolphe bridge – whose wooden service bridge can be seen lavished with festive swags on the occasion of the laying of its foundation stone in 1900 – but also charts the deconstruction of sites such as fort Rheinsheim.
All of these black-and-white photos, juxtaposed with several snapshots of present-day Luxembourg, show how the city has reimagined itself.
The exhibition at the Ratskeller in the city centre Photo: Gerry Huberty
All of these black-and-white photos, juxtaposed with several snapshots of present-day Luxembourg, show how the city has reimagined itself.
"Luxembourg City has managed to 'use' or attribute some new functions to some traditional buildings, giving them new life," said Marc Wilwert of the Photothèque in an interview. "It has managed not just to reduce historical buildings and their architecture to their façades, as simple decoration, but implicates these buildings in modern day-life with a real use, giving real meaning to these buildings."
In the exhibition, it is surprising to see just how much the architectural landscape of Luxembourg City has both changed and stayed the same. The same is true for the way of life in Luxembourg City.
While a disproportionate amount of boater hats and pipe smoking clearly places a photo of the traditional Emaischen festival in the past, people can be seen fawning over piles of merchandise and handmade Péckvillercher much like they do today.
In one photo, you get a glimpse of the uncanny and cyclical nature of the city's history as passengers ride the electrical forerunner of the newly instated tram.
At every turn in this exhibition, there is something to glean from the city's history; however, there is also a lot to be glean from the history of photography itself.
Embalmed in their black-and-white compositions, these photos take on a history and gravitas all their own.
The techniques of certain photographers can be felt in their work, such as a landscape shot of Fort Niedergrünewald by Pierre Brandebourg in which one can see distinct smearing where the photographer has decided to "touch-up" the image on its glass plate negative.
Michael Reinertz is the culture critic of the Luxembourg Times. Photo: Guy Wolff
The techniques of certain photographers can be felt in their work, such as a landscape shot of Fort Niedergrünewald by Pierre Brandebourg in which one can see distinct smearing where the photographer has decided to "touch-up" the image on its glass plate negative.
What results is a work that, like an ancient relief, not only sheds light on its historic subject, but also on the history of its artistic medium.
The Photothèque has done an excellent job with its exhibition. While it may feel a bit short-winded, it’s definitely worth a visit if you find yourself with a few minutes to spare walking around the city centre.
The exhibition will be running in Cercle Cité’s Ratskeller gallery on Rue du Curé until 6 September. The gallery is open daily from 11:00am to 7:00pm with free entrance.
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