The Leporello Book: the City as a Sign in Circulation

Referring to the festival's overall framework "Distribution and Markets" this historical photobook exhibition will discuss the mass-produced travel books of the 19th century and their impact on the global development of the city as a commodity and tourist attraction. The exhibition focuses on a particular photobook typology: the leporello book - its modern visual
culture and the role of architectural photography in this context. Consisting of thirty-two books on loan from Danish libraries and private collections, the exhibition displays a representative selection of leporello books, including early examples from the nineteenth century and contemporary ones. It showcases books from many countries, books of different sizes and qualities, with or without text, and containing black-and-white photographs or colour reproductions. It illustrates the variety of the book typology and documents its development and signature style from the nineteenth century onwards.