Mike#911
Silence, Light, and Forgotten Frescoes
The reading room of the Lübeck City Library, built in 1926 in the style of Neue Sachlichkeit, reflects the democratic spirit of public education in the Weimar Republic. At the far end of the room, faded frescoes by Hungarian-born artist Ervin Bossányi hint at the cultural optimism of that era. In 1937, the paintings were declared “degenerate art” by the Nazis and were overpainted. They remained hidden for over two decades before being carefully uncovered in 1960 – preserved in their damaged state, just as Bossányi requested.
The room itself is a composition of silence and light: tall windows, ordered desks, and a restrained elegance. The photograph captures this atmosphere from above, revealing the calm geometry of a space shaped equally by history and purpose.
Photographed with the Leica Lux app (Eternal look, Summilux 28 mm f/1.4 simulation) on iPhone 14.
Silence, Light, and Forgotten Frescoes
The reading room of the Lübeck City Library, built in 1926 in the style of Neue Sachlichkeit, reflects the democratic spirit of public education in the Weimar Republic. At the far end of the room, faded frescoes by Hungarian-born artist Ervin Bossányi hint at the cultural optimism of that era. In 1937, the paintings were declared “degenerate art” by the Nazis and were overpainted. They remained hidden for over two decades before being carefully uncovered in 1960 – preserved in their damaged state, just as Bossányi requested.
The room itself is a composition of silence and light: tall windows, ordered desks, and a restrained elegance. The photograph captures this atmosphere from above, revealing the calm geometry of a space shaped equally by history and purpose.
Photographed with the Leica Lux app (Eternal look, Summilux 28 mm f/1.4 simulation) on iPhone 14.