Photographer and Artist. He studied graphics and photography at the Cologne Institutes of Art after World War II. His first works were abstracts using light patterns recorded on photo paper and photo montages. He was best known for his lifelike and bold close up photos of German celebrities and politicians, in particular his 1957 portrait of Konrad Adenauer, but published photo books on many topics, including a collaboration with Heinrich Boll. He also produced the so called “mediation mills”, which were mobile acrylic and wire sculptures. His last book was “Cologne at 5:30 am”, which he called his melancholy farewell to his hometown. That message led people to think that he may have committed suicide, as he was found dead in shortly thereafter in his apartment under unclear circumstances. A plaza near the main train station in Cologne bears his name.
Photographer and Artist. He studied graphics and photography at the Cologne Institutes of Art after World War II. His first works were abstracts using light patterns recorded on photo paper and photo montages. He was best known for his lifelike and bold close up photos of German celebrities and politicians, in particular his 1957 portrait of Konrad Adenauer, but published photo books on many topics, including a collaboration with Heinrich Boll. He also produced the so called “mediation mills”, which were mobile acrylic and wire sculptures. His last book was “Cologne at 5:30 am”, which he called his melancholy farewell to his hometown. That message led people to think that he may have committed suicide, as he was found dead in shortly thereafter in his apartment under unclear circumstances. A plaza near the main train station in Cologne bears his name.
Bio by: Kenneth Gilbert
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