The collections of the German Historical Museum

• Title: Diorama: "coal mine"
• Artist: Engelbrecht, Martin (1684-1758)
• Origin: Augsburg
• Date: ca. 1730
• Material: Paper, cardboard
• Technique: Punched, laminated, cut, colored, folded, glued
• Size: 9 x 14 cm

In the 18th century dioramas became very popular as a means of entertainment. Around 1730, the Augsburg copperplate engraver and publisher Martin Engelbrecht created this miniature theater. It consists of 5-8 scenery-like sheets, which create a perspective image if arranged one behind the other. Along with religious themes, these scenes show courtly life, the seasons, or, as in our case, a coal mine. These small-size dioramas are regarded as the precursors of the paper theaters that became popular in the 19th century.