Erwin Blumenfeld

Erwin Blumenfeld ( born January 26, 1897 in Berlin, † 4 July 1969 in Rome) was a photographer of German-Jewish origin, and in the 1940s and 1950s, one of the world's most sought-after portrait and fashion photographers.

Life

While Blumenfeld makes Berlin a lesson at Moses & Schlochauer ( women's clothing ) at Hausvogteiplatz, he learns both expressionist artist and later Dadaists know, including Else Lasker-Schüler, Mynona and George Grosz. Blumenfeld made ​​during this period mainly collages and drawings. After the First World War, he moved with his wife Lena Citroen in Holland, where he is working again after failed attempts in the art trade in clothes stores, and later opened her own shop, but which is financially very successful. Since the early 1930s he has been intensively with photography, especially with portraits, but also some files. He also commented in sharp collagen (eg Hitler face ) the political events of the day.

In 1936 summarizes Blumenfeld after final failure of his fashion business the decision to become a professional photographer and went to Paris, where he quickly set initial success. In 1939, he traveled for the first time in the U.S. and receives a contract with the fashion magazine Harper 's Bazaar there. He returned in 1940 to France. There interned in the French concentration camp Le Vernet. 1941 succeeds, emigration to the USA where he can already two years later opened his own photo studio. It is in consequence one of the highest-paid fashion photographers of his time.

Is famous flowers field in the 1940s and 1950s primarily for his fashion photographs for this area so important magazines such as Vogue and Harper 's Bazaar. Even his nudes was highly appreciated.

The mid-60s had Blumenfeld present the rough draft of his " imagination Roman". In Germany found itself at this time no publisher who would print the book. To disrespectful, ironically, not a sentimental memories. Blumenfeld juggles with the language, throwing words in the air. Fall so brilliant and revealing creations like " the world is a craving institution". Blumenfeld is not only photographers, but also word artist.

Autobiographical writings

  • Jadis et Daguerre. Paris 1975 ( memories ) Foreword David Rousset
  • Through thousands of years of time. Winterthur 1976 ( memories ) and dtv 1980
  • By Millennial time. Argon Verlag, Berlin, 1988 ( memories ). Note: As above, but improved version with photo part. Foreword by Alfred Andersch
  • Imagination novel. Eichborn Verlag, Frankfurt am Main 1998 ( memories ). Note: As above, but with the book title you selected Blumenfeld as well as all selected by him pictures
  • Eye to I. Thames and Hudson, 1976 ( memories )
July 4 Expressionism Vogue (magazine) Name Authority File
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