Standbeeld van Hans Jakob Fugger in Augsburg 1865 - 1915

This is a photograph of a statue made by Ferdinand Brauer, depicting Hans Jakob Fugger in Augsburg. Statues like these, erected during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, were tools in shaping collective memory and civic pride. Looking closely, we see Fugger, a member of a prominent merchant family, elevated on a pedestal, a visual cue that signifies his importance and status. The statue would have been commissioned and erected by civic authorities or Fugger family members who were keen to promote a particular narrative of Augsburg’s history, one centered on commercial success and family legacy. These statues often glossed over the complexities of historical figures. Understanding the social and economic context in which these monuments were created allows us to examine whose stories are celebrated and whose are left out. Historical archives, city records, and genealogical research help to reveal the social structures of the time.