Faces of the Time: Photographs by Hugo Erfurth
Rather than elaborate studio settings with props, Erfurth showed his subjects before simple backgrounds. Through reduction to the essentials, the photograph was literally to mirror something of the person鈥檚 essence.
In the 1920s, Erfurth鈥檚 prominent portrait subjects, among them K盲the Kollwitz, Lovis Corinth and Gertrud Leistikow, still came from the realm of culture and theatre. Following the National Socialist accession to power, these artists and many others were systematically ostracized, defamed and persecuted. In order to make a living, Erfurth now increasingly sought the support of well-known figures in the areas of science, industry and politics鈥攑ersons who continued their careers under the conditions of the Nazi regime and, in part, aligned themselves with its structures. Examples are Max Planck, who remained in the Nazi state despite his critical stance, and the surgeon Hans von Haberer-Kremshohenstein.
As a way of underscoring the rarity of his photographs, Erfurth used elaborate fine-printing techniques that lent them particular depth. They already fetched high prices during his lifetime. He pursued the aim of remaining 鈥渢rue, clear and true to life鈥� in his artistic work, regardless of the political contexts to which his models belonged.
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Rather than elaborate studio settings with props, Erfurth showed his subjects before simple backgrounds. Through reduction to the essentials, the photograph was literally to mirror something of the person鈥檚 essence.
In the 1920s, Erfurth鈥檚 prominent portrait subjects, among them K盲the Kollwitz, Lovis Corinth and Gertrud Leistikow, still came from the realm of culture and theatre. Following the National Socialist accession to power, these artists and many others were systematically ostracized, defamed and persecuted. In order to make a living, Erfurth now increasingly sought the support of well-known figures in the areas of science, industry and politics鈥攑ersons who continued their careers under the conditions of the Nazi regime and, in part, aligned themselves with its structures. Examples are Max Planck, who remained in the Nazi state despite his critical stance, and the surgeon Hans von Haberer-Kremshohenstein.
As a way of underscoring the rarity of his photographs, Erfurth used elaborate fine-printing techniques that lent them particular depth. They already fetched high prices during his lifetime. He pursued the aim of remaining 鈥渢rue, clear and true to life鈥� in his artistic work, regardless of the political contexts to which his models belonged.
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