Fotograafi luulealbum: Gedichte von Charles Borchardt
Creators: name: Kriis, Leili
Publisher: name: Tartu Ülikooli ajaloo küsimusi
Year: 2021

description: The poetry album written by the well-known photographer Charles Borchardt is a remarkable historical source of Baltic German occasional poetry in terms of its content as well as design. The handwritten, beautifully bound album has 568 pages numbered by the author, plus a register. The titles of the chapters and poems are highlighted in calligraphy, and the poems often end with a vignette. The pages, partially written in gold, are artistically designed with thematic romantical (decal) pictures, printed lithographies and a few photos. The poetry album contains three chapters, it begins with a prologue and dedication (Prolog und Weihe), the first chapter is titled „The Soft, Gentle Period“, the most comprehensive chapter is „The Second Period“ (Zweite Period), and finally „The Third Period“ (Dritte Period), followed by the „Register“ (Inhalt) and „Annex“ (Anhang). The first part of the album, as the title highlights, consists mostly of the author’s romantic occasional poetry and love poems, titled as follows: „Ceremony of Youth“ (Jugend Feier), „Joy of Love“ (Freude an Liebe), „Bringer of Joy“ (Die Freundenspenderin), as well as descriptions of the beauty of nature: „Song of Spring“ (Frühlingslied), „Morning Song of the Wanderer“ (Wanderers Morgenlied) etc. The second period starts with poems dedicated to people and places encountered on the road. Romantic nationalism is evident in the poems „Greetings from Homeland“ (Heimatgruss), „Czar City“ (Die Czarenstadt) etc. The poems dedicated to his kin deserve some attention as well: there are poems for his brothers, photographers Robert (Kunstgefühl) and Ferdinand (Epistel an Ferdinand B), his wife Olga (An Olga), and poems shedding light on the personal celebrations of the author’s life („On the Occasion of My 30th Birthday“ [An meinem 30. Geburtstag], „25 March“ [Zum 25. Märtz]). Sonnets and epic ballades dominate in the third period: „Love and Grave“ 1–21 (Liebe und Grab), „Songs of Northern Lands“ 1–6 (Nordische Lieder). Many texts carry a note on when they were publicly performed, for example, the poem dedicated to the silver wedding anniversary of artists August Krüger and Caroline K. was „Performed on 30 August 1866“ (Zur Silber Hochzeit des Künstlerpaares August Krüger u. Caroline K. Angeführt am 30. August 1866), and the „Prologue to Silver Wedding Anniversary, „Party“. Performed on 14 March 1868“ (Silberhochzeit “Fest” Prolog) etc. Borchardt’s poetry album contains pages upon pages of sentimental poems and cycles of poems driven by love, the beauty of nature and art. The motivation was often to amuse the public as well. The album contains salon poetry written for acquaintances or important people, as well as occasional poetry for performing at celebratory or community events. Borchardt’s activity as a photographer allowed him to meet many remarkable contemporaries. The ladies among them must have had a greater influence on the author, as is evident from the titles of numerous poems dedicated to them. The contents of the poetry album suggest that Charles Borchardt had the romantic „soul of an artist“, and he was an active member of the society, as well as a remarkable photographer. His main contribution to Estonian cultural history is his photo series Estonian Types (Eesti tüübid; 1867), but also images of Baltic German families, pastors, burghers, and views of Tallinn from the second half of the 19th century. As Borchardt and his direct offspring passed away young, his personal heritage was left to its fate. Hence, it is gratifying that his poetry album and photos are preserved in Estonian memory institutions and available to the public. This allows us to visually imagine the life, people, landscapes, and sights in the town of Tallinn in 19th century Estonia. We are also able read about the thoughts and feelings experienced by Charles Borchardt, the most well-known lensman in 19th century Estonia.
description: Tartu Ülikooli ajaloo küsimusi, No. 49 (2021): Morgenstern ja tema aeg