Sneeuwwitje door Robert Cauer 1850 - 1900

Carl Heinrich Jacobi made this photograph of Robert Cauer's sculpture 'Snow White' in the mid-19th century. The image captures Snow White being tempted by the disguised evil queen, embodying themes of innocence threatened by deception. Made in Germany, this work reflects the rise of Romanticism, a cultural movement that valorized folk tales and moral narratives. The statue was made at a time when the Grimm brothers were collecting folk stories. How would they influence social values and shape national identity in the German speaking countries? Photography was developing as a medium and how could it be used in the arts? The institutions around art making are changing with the popularisation of photography. What are the ways in which photography could democratise and disseminate art? Art history involves considering not just the artwork itself, but also the social, political, and cultural contexts in which it was created and received. By examining 19th-century German society and photographic archives, we can better understand this photograph's deeper meanings and its place within the history of art.