After his series devoted to the representation of the most famous operas in Germany, Bernhard Hartmann chose to photograph the municipal library of Stuttgart inaugurated in 2011. The building, resolutely contemporary, is the creation of the German-Korean architectural firm Eun Young Yi. A monolithic cube on the outside, the interior spaces are stacked on large galleries, according to a square plan. Both conceptual and functional, the interior space is entirely white, and only the spines of the books bring color. The simple, direct and radiant architecture contributes to its identity as a public library, open to all, and distances it from the model of the elitist institute. With a perfectly frontal shot, Bernhard Hartmann chose to emphasize the symmetry of the building. The photographer knew how to appropriate the space, empty of any human presence and thus endowed with a timeless character. He emphasizes the solemnity of the place, and underlines the symbol represented by the library, both a spiritual place and a seat of knowledge.