Exhibition Information

ARCHITECTURE & INDUSTRY

The Architectural Photographs of August Sander

August Sander, born 1876 in Herdorf (Siegerland), Germany, created next to his principal work in portraiture and landscape, a great number of architectural photographs. The main body of work was produced in the 1930s and extends from a time period of almost 20 years, from 1920 to 1939. During this time images were made ? often as free work, however also as assignments ? of historical buildings in Cologne and in smaller number of modern architecture. The photographs presented here of the Allianz insurance building are examples of his commercial work in the sphere of modern architecture.

Already in the 1930s, parallel to to the epochal series ?Menschen des 20. Jahrhunderts? (People of the 20th Century), a series planned under the title ?Cologne as it Was,? which could first be finalized in the period from 1946-1952. A large part of the exhibited architectural motifs is a part of this portfolio series, which had as its focus the representation of historical Cologne, whereby modern architecture was not excluded.  Mainly the Rhine River bridges comprised an ever-returning theme in the portfolio series.

The objective of Sander?s series was the timeless portrayal of the city of Cologne.  The streets are as a rule empty of people, and contemporary development was excluded.  For his images Sander preferred an elevated point of view, which made it possible for him to maintain the rising architectural lines at a right angle. In addition, he was able to concentrate on individual buildings within the crowded structure of a city dating from the middle ages.

The construction of the 16 volumes belies a typological interest similar to that of  August Sander?s portrait photography. The themes of the portfolios range from the cathedral as central focus of the city to portfolio groups with sacred and profane buildings as well as views of the Rhine River and panoramic views over the roofs of the city. The change of perspective and manner of representation, from traditional, classical architectural views to details and photographs with the influence of ?New Objectivity? allows this body of work to appear less strict than the portraiture.  Furthermore, this architectural work demonstrates in an admirable way the conceptual approach of August Sander, which has made his oeuvre a milestone in the photographic history of the 20th Century.