The Photothek of the Zentralinstitut für Kunstgeschichte presents 16,000 historical photographs of the city of Munich, its buildings, streets, and squares as part of its collection. With this exhibition, we would like to give you a first impression of the variety of images and invite you on a journey into the city's past and the history of photography.
Churches in Munich
Sacral buildings and their interiors have long been of particular interest to art historians and form a clear focal point in the Photothek's collection. More than 8,000 photographs attest to the diversity and importance of Munich's church architecture.
Munich: Jesuit Church of Saint Michael (1583/1597) by Friedrich Sustris and Wolfgang MillerZentralinstitut für Kunstgeschichte
Munich: Saint Johann Nepomuk (Asam Church) (1733/1746) by Cosmas Damian Asam and Egid Quirin AsamZentralinstitut für Kunstgeschichte
Munich: Benedictine Abbey Church of Saint Boniface (1835/1850) by Georg Friedrich ZieblandZentralinstitut für Kunstgeschichte
Munich: Catholic Parish Church Saint Maximilian (1893/1901) by Heinrich von SchmidtZentralinstitut für Kunstgeschichte
Munich: Mary of the Seven Sorrows (Catholic church) (1969/1970) by Franz RufZentralinstitut für Kunstgeschichte
The Streets of Munich
Photographs of the city and exterior views of notable buildings document the passing of time. The magnificent boulevards of the 19th century and their buildings still characterize Munich's cityscape today.
Ludwigstrasse was designed as part of the expansion of Munich, today's Maxvorstadt, according to the wishes of Crown Prince Ludwig I. He initially entrusted the architect Leo von Klenze (1784-1864) with the planning and execution in 1816 and Friedrich von Gärtner (1791-1847) from 1827.
Munich: Ludwigstrasse (1816/1817) by Leo von KlenzeZentralinstitut für Kunstgeschichte
Munich: Ludwigstrasse (1816/1817) by Leo von KlenzeZentralinstitut für Kunstgeschichte
Maximilianstrasse was initiated by Maximilian II as an extensive urban development project and executed by Friedrich Bürklein (1813-1872). It leads southeast from Max-Joseph-Platz and ends at the Maximilianeum, the residence of a study foundation for outstanding high school graduates and, since 1949, of the Bavarian Parliament.
Munich: Residential and commercial building, Maximilianstraße 32 (1854) by Friedrich BürkleinZentralinstitut für Kunstgeschichte
Munich: Government of Upper Bavaria (1856/1864) by Friedrich BürkleinZentralinstitut für Kunstgeschichte
Munich: Maximilianeum (1857/1874) by Friedrich BürkleinZentralinstitut für Kunstgeschichte
Tourist attraction, traffic hub, and event venue: Munich's city squares are centers of urban life.
Residence of the Monarchs
For many centuries, Munich was the residence and seat of government of the Bavarian dukes, electors, and kings from the House of Wittelsbach. Photographs of the Residenz and Palace Nymphenburg show the palace architecture of the different eras and the rich interior.
Munich: Munich Residenz (1826/1835) by Leo von KlenzeZentralinstitut für Kunstgeschichte
Munich: Munich Residenz (1570/1600) by Simon Zwitzel and Wilhelm EgcklZentralinstitut für Kunstgeschichte
Munich: Nymphenburg Palace (1664/1758) by Enrico Zuccalli and Joseph EffnerZentralinstitut für Kunstgeschichte
Munich: Nymphenburg Palace (1664/1678) by Agostino Barelli and Enrico ZuccalliZentralinstitut für Kunstgeschichte
The urban green spaces and their park buildings invite visitors to unwind. While the English Garden was intended for the bourgeoisie from the beginning, the Nymphenburg palace garden only opened to the public after the end of the monarchy.
Early Photography
Munich was one of the most important centers for photography in the 19th century. In the 1850s, pioneers like Georg Böttger laid the first milestones, when they began to portray the city and its buildings and capture them as contemporary documents for eternity.
Munich: Viktualienmarkt (market)Zentralinstitut für Kunstgeschichte
Munich: Isartor (gate) (1314/1337)Zentralinstitut für Kunstgeschichte
Munich: Justizpalast Munich (Palace of Justice) (1890/1897) by Friedrich von ThierschZentralinstitut für Kunstgeschichte
Munich: View of the cityZentralinstitut für Kunstgeschichte
A Center for the Arts
The royal court drew a large number of visual artists to the city. At the beginning of the 20th century, Munich had a flourishing art scene. The numerous museums, galleries, theaters, and concert halls still attract culture enthusiasts today.
Munich: Academy of Fine Arts Munich (1875/1885) by Gottfried von NeureutherZentralinstitut für Kunstgeschichte
Munich: Lenbachhaus (Städtische Galerie) (1887/1891) by Gabriel von SeidlZentralinstitut für Kunstgeschichte
Munich: former New Pinakothek (museum) (1846/1853) by August von VoitZentralinstitut für Kunstgeschichte
Munich: Neue Pinakothek (museum) (1975/1981) by Alexander von BrancaZentralinstitut für Kunstgeschichte
The National Socialist Party Headquarters
In 1931, the development and transformation of the previously peaceful villa district between Königsplatz and Karolinenplatz into the National Socialist party headquarters began. Our photographic documentation shows the planning and construction of the Nazi structures and the use of the buildings after 1945 by the American military government and cultural institutions of the Free State of Bavaria.
Destruction and Reconstruction
During the Second World War, a large part of Munich was destroyed, 90% of the historic old town. Today's appearance of Munich is mainly the result of the reconstruction of the past, either true to the original or evolved.
Munich: Alte Pinakothek (Old Pinakothek) (1826/1836) by Leo von KlenzeZentralinstitut für Kunstgeschichte
Munich: Munich Residenz (1615/1615) by Heinrich Schön († 1640)Zentralinstitut für Kunstgeschichte
Munich: Partial view of the cityZentralinstitut für Kunstgeschichte
Munich: Block of houses, Maximilianstraße 11-13 (1945/1950)Zentralinstitut für Kunstgeschichte
Munich Facades
In 1971, Siegfried von Quast photographed the historicist and art nouveau facades of Munich townhouses for the illustrated book "Münchener Fassaden." The more than 1,200 photographs are – since by now historic themselves – also testimony to urban change.
All photographs from the photographic archive of the Zentralinstitut für Kunstgeschichte Munich
Concept & Text: Sonja Hull, Ralf Peters, Nadine Raddatz and Silvia Werndl
