Ernst Ludwig Kirchners fotografisches Werk
The exhibition "The Artist as Photographer. Ernst Ludwig Kirchner's photographic work" runs until 1 May at the Kirchner Museum Davos. The primary focus is on the famous Expressionist's glass plate and cellulose negatives from the years 1908-1938. As one of the initiators of the Bridge, he laid down the foundations for Expressionism. He also exploited the possibilities of photography in his work, arriving at a "photographic pictorial" concept – photographs as the product of interaction between photography and the fine arts.
The museum's photographic collection comprises some 1500 works, including negatives, vintage prints (made by the artist himself) and modern prints (later prints). Thanks to extensive support from the Swiss Federal Office of Culture and the Kirchner Verein Davos, the photography collection has been made fully accessible. All negatives have been digitalised and high-grade, museum quality gelatine silver prints of every negative have been made. This offers the first ever comprehensive insight into Kirchner's photographic work, highlighting his varied and often experimental approach to the medium of photography.
Around 300 of Kirchner's works are on display in the current exhibition – from nudes and studio scenes to portraits, landscapes and still life photography. Kirchner also gave consideration to how and where his works should hang. The use of Halbe's magnetic frame principle has made it possible to respect and implement his ideas with regard to presentation.
Kirchner Museum Davos, Photos: Stephan Bösch
