The Photographic Collection of the Architekturmuseum der TU München

Photographs convey architecture and usually also shape its perception. Since the invention of photography photographs have served both for the presentation of buildings as well as for the training of architects. The subjects, tasks and possibilities of photography for the conveyance of architecture are shown with examples from the large stocks of the Architekturmuseum. In a first section the motifs and forms of this architectural sample collection are presented with famous names from the pioneer era of photography, such as Édouard-Denis Balus, Bisson frères and Pascal Sébah, followed by examples illustrating the use of photography for design. Finally, the cooperation between architects and photographs – Eero Saarinen / Ezra Stoller, Alfred Roth / Hans Finsler or Paul Schneider-Esleben / Albert Renger-Patzsch – with regard to well-directed camera work for the publication of buildings rounds off the insight into hitherto hidden treasures of the Architekturmuseum, which unfold a panorama of photography from its beginnings until today.