Lichtgedanken 02

S C HW E R P U N K T 23 02 | LICHT GEDANKEN »Außer Thesen allerhand gewesen« – this is the title of the current exhibition on the 500th anniversary of the Reformation that can be seen in the Thuringian State and University Library (ThULB) until December. Among the exhibits are books and manuscripts from the time of the Reformation from the ThULB’s collec- tion: early writings of Luther and other reformers, hand-written notes and valuable prints. But the exhibition organizers and restorers had their work cut out before the centuries-old volumes could be shown off in the display cases in the room for antique treasures, thereby bearing vibrant witness to their time of creation. Reformer in a cellulose bath BY UTE SCHÖNFELDER The Thuringian State and University Li- brary (ThULB) is currently advertising its exhibition using the slogan »Treasu- res of the Reformation Age«. How could it be any different? We are in the year 2017 – THE anniversary year of the Reformation – so it’s obvious that the largest library in the Free State chips in with an appropriate contribution to the 500th anniversary of the major upheavals in the Church and society. After all, Thuringia is one of the core states of the Reformation; for the last ten years, during the »Luther Decade«, in- tensive research has been carried out at the FSU and other research institutions, results published, collections in archives and libraries digitized and made avai- lable online and exhibitions prepared and staged. Unlikely treasures So, one morning in March, I follow Dr Joachim Ott in search of the local treasures of the Reformation. From the information counter of the ThULB, our search takes us to the room for antique treasures in which the exhibition »Au- ßer Thesen allerhand gewesen« can be seen until December. The contrast could scarcely be more striking: from the glass- roofed, spacious foyer, flooded with spring light in spite of the scaffolded entrance area, we proceed to the small, darkened exhibition room. The poster announcing the treasures is emblazoned on the entrance door. It shows a man in a monk’s habit with an oversized quill who – so it seems – is inscribing his frus- tration over the Church’s sale of indul- gences on a church door in large letters. With these scenes inmy mind, I enter the exhibition expecting original documents testifying to that major movement. But at first glance, the open books presen- ted here in twelve modestly lit display cases, hardly match my idea of »treasu- res«: These volumes, some of which are weighty tomes, have none of the pomp and splendour to offer that I expected, neither gold nor illustrations boasting lavish colours. Instead, there are thick, grey leather-bound volumes, and the open pages are of solid paper in shades of yellow and brown. The few illustrati- ons are woodcuts in the same colour as the printed letters. This is hardly the stuff of treasures. As if sensing my silent reservations, Dr Ott explains: »All these books come either from Luther’s direct environ- ment, contain writings by him or were edited by him.« Ott runs the ThULB’s Manuscripts and Special Collections Department, and he designed the exhi- bition and prepared it with his team. So what the visitor sees here could also be described as work materials: Luther View into the exhibition room in which the »Treasures of the Reformation Age« are to be seen until 14 December. F E AT U R E