The Influence of 'Americanism' on German Photography in the 20ies
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Copy number Shelfmark Shelf mark R072184 Ned. Fotomuseum Ned. fotomuseum
TitleThe Influence of 'Americanism' on German Photography in the 20ies
Author
Edition[nummer] 22
[tijdschrift; titel] CAMERA AUSTRIA
[tijdschrift; pagina] 25-38
Iconographic keywords
Year of publication1987
Materialartikel
Document TypeArticle
SubjectArchitectuur en fotografie, Kritische theorie, documentaire fotografie, Geschiedenis van de fotografie, Geschiedenis van de fotografie: D (Duitsland), Nieuwe zakelijkheid, Fotoboeken, Politiek en fotografie, Theorie van de fotografie, Geschiedenis van het fotoboek: D (Duitsland)
Abstract
The rewritten contribution from Molderings to the Symposium über Fotografie II,
Graz 1986. Molderings researched the sources of influence that gave rise to the
""Neue Sachlichkeit'' in Germany. His conclusion: ""It was not photographic
models that inspired German photographers but a much wider vision of America
that centered on economic and social life''. After WW I the American Dawes-plan
did support capitalism and social-democracy against left (and right) wing
revolutionary tendences. With this plan American ideologie did spread itself on
managerial but also on cultural and social level. Americanism: a romantization
of technology, the cult of the engineer, technical rationality became something
of a religion. Molderings reviews some illustrated books from travellers to the
USA, but also ""public relation'' books of German industries. Pictures from
both are revolutionary in their photographic concept, and a direct
foreshadowing of the Neue Sachlichkeit (das Neue Sehen) in Germany. Special
consideration is given to the most influential illustrated book by the then
well known modern architect Erich Mendelsohn: ""Amerika, Bilderbuch eines
Architekten'', 1926. On the basis of the reception of this book, Molderings can
state that it were not the American straight photographers Sheeler or Strand
that inspired the new conception of the photographic image, ""but the reality
of America itself - skyscrapers and huge cities called for a new dynamism in
visual thinking''.
Citaten:
Mendelsohn, E.: Amerika, Bilderbuch eines Architekten (1926)
Graz 1986. Molderings researched the sources of influence that gave rise to the
""Neue Sachlichkeit'' in Germany. His conclusion: ""It was not photographic
models that inspired German photographers but a much wider vision of America
that centered on economic and social life''. After WW I the American Dawes-plan
did support capitalism and social-democracy against left (and right) wing
revolutionary tendences. With this plan American ideologie did spread itself on
managerial but also on cultural and social level. Americanism: a romantization
of technology, the cult of the engineer, technical rationality became something
of a religion. Molderings reviews some illustrated books from travellers to the
USA, but also ""public relation'' books of German industries. Pictures from
both are revolutionary in their photographic concept, and a direct
foreshadowing of the Neue Sachlichkeit (das Neue Sehen) in Germany. Special
consideration is given to the most influential illustrated book by the then
well known modern architect Erich Mendelsohn: ""Amerika, Bilderbuch eines
Architekten'', 1926. On the basis of the reception of this book, Molderings can
state that it were not the American straight photographers Sheeler or Strand
that inspired the new conception of the photographic image, ""but the reality
of America itself - skyscrapers and huge cities called for a new dynamism in
visual thinking''.
Citaten:
Mendelsohn, E.: Amerika, Bilderbuch eines Architekten (1926)
| Copy number | R072184 |
| Institution name | |
| Shelf mark | Ned. fotomuseum |