The first exhibition in the Leica Galerie Wetzlar of Leica’s jubilee year 2025 appears under the motto: “100 Years of Leica: Witness to a Century,” and will be on display from February 07 until June 01, 2025. The exhibition presents an exciting selection of photographs and items offering, for the first time, a glimpse into the rich Leica Archive collection. It represents not only the company’s memory but is also a treasure trove of stories to be discovered
The exhibition will take place from Feb. 7 to June 1 2025 at the Leica Gallery Wetzlar.
The Good Picture
A Brief History of Proofs of Performance from the Leica Archive
Leica has shaped the history of photography for over 100 years. With the invention of the first models, Leica made a decisive contribution to new forms of imagery, and with 35mm photography to the development of its own visual language. The company has been committed to image culture ever since, and the camera systems that came along during the 20th century also influenced the development and perception of the medium. The close collaboration with leading photographers from different fields of photography, as well as the cooperation of countless amateurs and Leica enthusiasts, scientists and technophiles, has given rise to a comprehensive Leica Archive, which includes not only technical camera items, but also many collections of pictures. Frequently acquired as photographers’ so-called proof of performance, and archived as exemplary pieces, their inclusion was often a tribute to these achievements. Consequently, the archive encompasses the complex palette of Leica photography in all its manifestations: from architecture to reportage; from portrait to still-life; and from street to documentary.
The exhibition presents more that 50 works, including by great classics of Leica photography, such as Thomas Hoepker, Frank Horvat, Toni Schneiders and Erich Angenendt and, for connoisseurs of Leica photography, exemplary Leica representatives such as Horst H. Baumann, Peter Cornelius and Hans Silvester, as well as pictures by unknown Leica photographers, and others worth rediscovering, such as Julius Behnke, Lothar Klimek, Siegfried Hartig and Hans Cordes. In addition to classically-framed works, some of the ‘proofs of performance’ are presented in their original form on index cards, in order to provide additional insight into the diversity of the Leica Archive. Furthermore, the display is enriched by several archival finds that were once exhibited as Leica advertising material in camera shops or at trade fairs, and which now reveal much about the visual aesthetics of the time and their significance for the amateur sector.
For further information about the Leica Galerie Wetzlar:
https://leica-camera.com/en-int/Leica-Galleries/Leica-Gallery-Wetzlar
Exhibition Details:
Dates: Feb 7 – June 1 2025
Opening Hours: 10 AM - 6 PM (Everyday)
Venue: Leica Gallery Wetzlar
Am Leitz-Park 5
35578 Wetzlar
Leica Gallery Wetzlar
Leica Camera AG Am Leitz-Park 5
35578 Wetzlar
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