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Unidentified photographer
A cell in the Heidelberg Jail [Heidelberger Carcer]
1880s (ca)
Albumen print
5 3/4 x 3 3/4 ins (image)
Private collection of Jules Martino
LL/61438
Note the graffiti and numerous photographs, which appear to be carte de visite size, attached to a wall as well as number of silhouettes. of prisoners.
Hans Christian Adam (pers. email to Alan Griffiths, 16 Sept 2015) provided a background to this and similar photographs:
"This is not a usual prison cell, but the Heidelberg "Karzer" or University prison. Universities in Germany had, in some part up to the 1920s, jurisdiction in University matters - e.g. for unruly students being drunk on the premises, disturbing the peace, noise making, brawls, beating-ups & general awful typical youth behaviour.
After about 1900 many students were proud to be sent to the Karzer for a few days as it heightened their social prestige; they considered their stay sometimes as an honour. Their Guardians brought them beer and restaurant food against a proper fee. They painted the walls with their silhouettes and the colors of their student associations or corporations. We have three finely preserved and similar cells in Göttingen, too."
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