When Kirchner began working with photography at the beginning of the 20th century, he could already look back on a generation of photographically trained painters who were able to integrate photographic manipulation techniques into their paintings. As a classically trained architect and avant-garde artist, it was simply impossible for Kirchner to use his photography as a purely technical means of reproduction independent of art production. This exhibition now looks at this unique interweaving of painting and photography in the painter's oeuvre.
The invention of photography is one of the most important cultural and artistic events of the 19th century. Photography rapidly developed into an "image machine" suitable for the masses, which soon enabled anyone who could afford it to capture their surroundings. Last but not least, the image of people could now be captured with unprecedented ease, relative speed and accuracy. As a result of this change, painting lost its claim to sovereignty as a medium of documentation and ultimately led to a new (self-)understanding of this art form. Many artists, such as Alfons Mucha, André Derain and Edgar Degas, turned to photography and its possibilities early on, both as a model and inspiration and as an artistic medium in its own right.
Ernst Ludwig Kirchner, Lady in the Forest, Portrait of Nina Hard © Kirchner Museum Davos
However, only a few Expressionist artists took a serious and long-term interest in photography, especially Ernst Ludwig Kirchner alongside Gabriele Münter. He took his first photographs in Dresden as early as 1909. He documented his stays on Fehmarn as well as his Berlin studios and worked intensively with this medium throughout his time in Switzerland. Kirchner eventually left behind around 1,300 glass and cellulose negatives, vintage prints and five bound photo albums with 900 photographs of his paintings, drawings, sculptures and prints, including installation photos from exhibitions. The majority of these objects are now in the collection of the Kirchner Museum Davos.
until January 5, 2025
