Zograscope

A peep show is a show and viewing device that allows a view into its interior and the viewer is graphics with deceptively real perspective distance. From the second half of the 18th century, the proscenium was a popular fairground attraction in the whole of Europe. The peep show images with views of European sites, but also exotic scenes and theatrical representations, shaped the image of broad strata of the " wide world ". The peepshow is thus regarded as one of the first mass media.

Operation

In a peepshow is an apparatus for producing optical illusions or optical illusions.

The peepshow allowed for a visual presentation of landscapes, cities or scenarios such as classical mythology themes or stories from the Bible.

In contrast to the " magic lantern ", through which an image is projected on an opposite wall, the observer, the prints themselves see the proscenium This device enhanced spatial effect is achieved on the one hand, the distance between image and peephole is very low and the other hand, in the wall of the box like a magnifying glass lens, so to speak, a magnifying glass, is located. The fact that the image is in a dark environment and is illuminated, the space is substantially enhanced. The picture-frame images were usually framed or mounted on rollers, so that the possibility existed advance the images via a rotary head.

The proscenium image

Crucial to the success of the medium were the peep peep pictures, mostly designed for proscenium provided, designed as a copper engraving, steel engraving or etching and painted with gouache series of pictures.

This box pictures were mostly silhouettes that you pasted on transparent paper and framed. In this way, the images could either be held against the light or with artificial light sources such as candles or tallow, are considered.

The subjects were mostly, as already mentioned, view of foreign cities and landscapes from near and distant countries, as well as events such as battles, natural disasters, urban fires, earthquakes or volcanic eruptions.

The appropriate and also the most commonly used format was a median folio size of approximately 26 x 41 cm. The essential at such a peepshow image was the width, since the image should fit into peep-show models of all kinds and also exist in the international market had.

To appear in the mirror in the correct form, the motifs were mapped to front. Since a three-dimensional illusion should be caused, the perspectives were emphasized and exaggerated in order to reinforce this three-dimensional effect yet. The leaves were individually labeled, which often took a mirror-inverted titles and below a detailed explanation for the projectionist at the top.

Due to the transparency with the peep - era had its heyday. In a transparent image it was a " two-phase image ", ie a thin paper that is printed on both sides and the alternating like this and will durchgeleuchtet that makes it overlays visible.

Historical development and the real charm at the peep show

The beginnings of the peep box go back to the Renaissance, so at that time in which the laws of central perspective were detected.

A more detailed description of this device is, however, only in 1677 by the mathematician Johann Christoph Kohl Coburg House ( 1604-1677 ).

The breakthrough came in the " rare case" but only at the beginning of the 18th century. From this time attracted the presenter, also called Guckkästner - mostly disabled veterans, former sailors, and the like - throughout the country on year and folk markets. Against payment you could take a look in a box and to the seen to underline yet, the presenter commented mostly the pictures.

The fascinating thing about the peep show was certainly also the fact that the people got pictures often only seen in the church at that time. By Guckkästner we now had the opportunity to get to other images and just immerse yourself in a different world and to behold distant cities, whose existence was not aware of until now. The fascination was probably in the mixture of the magical and the real.

Even today there are lovers who collect peep or even build yourself. Peep pictures are sought collectibles for collectors of popular graphics and - due to their often interesting and otherwise rare urban scenes - for collectors of lokalgeschichtlichem material.