1886 – Two quartermasters of the prussian army pose for the photographer at the shooting training area in Jüterbog, Germany. Photo: J. Plintzner, Jüterbog
The story behind the image
Historical photos can be quite strange. That’s because we lack the context when we’re seeing them for the first time.
Take this historical photo as an example. Two men in uniform pose for the photographer in what looks like a forest. They present their drinks (presumably beers) with weird, almost static looks on their faces. A small blackboard carries handwritten information:
Quartiermacher
2. Btt: Mgd. F.A.R.
18- Nr.4 -86
Schießplatz Jüterbog
Okay, this can be deciphered. The two guys were apparently quartermasters of the 2nd battalion in Magdeburg, Prussia, belonging to the field artillery regiment (F.A.R.) number 4. The photo was taken in 1886 on the shooting training area in Jüterbog, Prussia.
I can only guess that this was a fun photo. They had done the formal portrait shots and had still one image left, and so the photographer suggested a bit of fun. I can imagine how the photographer, military photographer J. Plintzner in Jüterbg, suggested: “And now, please try to be as serious as possible. No laughing. Present your beers. And hold still.” – and once the image had been shot they broke out in laughter over the silly scene.
Of course, I don’t know whether it happened like this, 138 years ago in Jüterbog. But it’s not impossible, especially as the photographer wrote on the back of another photo from 1883 “as a friendly reminder by J. Plintzner”, so they seem to have been friends or at least buddies for a couple of years.
The high resolution image
| Capture Date | 1886 |
| Photographer | J. Plintzner, Jüterbog |
| Location | Jüterbog, Germany |
| Image Source | Albumen print from a glass negative, mounted, CdV format (c. 8.7 x 5.2 cm) |
| Digital Image Source | EPSON Perfection 4870 Photo |
| Digital Image Source Format | TIFF, 48 bits/pixel, sRGB |
| Edited Image Format | JPEG, 24 bits/pixel, sRGB |
| Edited Image Dimensions | 5037 x 8223 Pixels |
| Copyright | Photo: J. Plintzner, Jüterbog Scan & Edit: Mark Zanzig/zanzig.com |
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