Artifact of the Month – The Bogen–Lipmann Cage
The Bogen–Lipmann cage, preserved in the collection of ELTE’s Faculty of Education and Psychology, came into the institution’s possession through Magda Ritoók, one of the leading figures in Hungarian psychological counseling. The device is associated with the work of German psychologist Otto Lipmann, who was a pioneer in applied psychology and career counseling.
The Bogen–Lipmann Cage (often referred to as the Bogen–Lippmann Cage) was a psychological testing tool used in the first half of the 20th century, primarily for career aptitude assessments. The purpose of the device was not only to measure test results but also to observe the thought and action processes that emerged during task performance.
The Bogen-Lipmann Cage presents a complex task that simultaneously assesses spatial-visual thinking, manual dexterity, problem-solving ability, and problem-solving strategy. The cage is an open wooden structure containing partitions and slanted deflectors that guide the movement of a wooden ball. The test subject’s task is to use wooden sticks of various shapes to guide the ball out of the maze. During the task, not only a successful solution was evaluated, but also the chosen strategy, the use of tools, and the approach to problem-solving. The Bogen–Lipmann cage allows for the observation of several skills that are important in numerous occupations requiring technical, craft-based, or precise manual work. A distinctive feature of the test is that the emphasis is not solely on the final result, but also on the process of solving the task.
The Bogen–Lipmann cage also holds cultural-historical significance, as its namesake, Otto Lipmann, was a German psychologist of Jewish descent whose tragic life was shaped by the rise of National Socialism. A replica of the cage served as the starting point for contemporary artist Ádám Albert’s installation *Munkapróba / BLK 1* in the Ludwig Museum’s 2014 exhibition titled [silence] – A Holocaust Exhibition. Contemporary artist Ádám Albert’s installation simultaneously referenced the history of psychology and the tragic fate of Otto Lipmann, whose academic work was rendered impossible after 1933, leading him to commit suicide. The interactive work gave visitors the opportunity to experience old psychological testing methods firsthand, while the exhibition’s concept also raised questions of confinement, perseverance, and the preservation of intellectual heritage.
Text: Andrea Varga
Photo: Péter Tóth
Source:
Ritoók Pálné – Takács Márta (1967): Pályaválasztási szaktanácsadás. Kézikönyv pályaválasztási szakvizsgálatok elvégzéséhez. Budapest: Munkaügyi Minisztérium.
Albert Ádám: Munkapróba / BLK 1. – Ludwig Múzeum – Kortárs Művészeti Múzeum