Die Wahrheit der Photographie brings together, for the first time in German translation, Oscar Gustave Rejlander’s scattered and often hard-to-find writings on photography. Accompanied by introductions, illustrations, and supplementary materials, the volume forms a compact compendium of Victorian photography in the mid-19th century. Rejlander’s texts address a wide range of topics: from the status of photography as an art form, to the practical setup of a photographic studio and technical aspects of image-making, to the diverse applications of photography—including its use in fields such as criminal investigation.

Oscar Gustave Rejlander (1813–1875) is regarded as one of the most innovative photographers of the 19th century. Alongside Julia Margaret Cameron, Lady Hawarden, and Lewis Carroll, he stands among the most significant figures of the Victorian era.

Bernd Stiegler is Professor of Modern German Literature in a Media Context at the University of Konstanz.