until Sunday February 03 2019
Museum Ludwig
T : +49 !0)221 221 24 114
Heinrich-Böll-Platz
D-50667 Köln
Germany
The year 2019 will mark the 250th anniversary of the birth of Alexander von Humboldt. Humboldt, who was well traveled and connected, was not only a member of the commission that voted for the worldwide publication of one of the first photographic processes in 1839. He was also subsequently given photo albums that are now valuable and singular works. These include an album from 1844 that the inventor of photography on paper, W. H. F. Talbot, dedicated to Humboldt—one of the first photo books ever. In 1858 Humboldt received a large album from Paul de Rosti with photos from Mexico and Venezuela in memory of his travels in South America. Their history and their journey to the collection of the Museum Ludwig will be reconstructed, offering a look back at the early days of photography.