Under-studied, under-exhibited, and under-appreciated? Paris gallery Jeu de Paume is looking to address all three concerns with an extensive exhibition on trailblazing photographer Germaine Krull. Major retrospectives centred on the Prussian-born pioneer have been relatively few and far between considering the artist’s status as a peer of Man Ray and André Kertész, with the last of note occurring in Germany in 1999, but unseen Krull material recently discovered has advanced the need for a fresh look at her remarkable oeuvre.
The Jeu de Paume show concentrates on Krull’s Parisian period from 1926 to 1935, when the artist made many of her most important images. Special attention is paid to the five year period between 1928 and 1933 when Krull enthusiastically pursued the photojournalism genre, much of which had until recently remained in obscurity in the archives of journals and magazines. Period documents including original publications have been used to provide context to 130 vintage Krull prints, and as well as her reportage, the exhibition includes work from her seminal nude studies published as 1930’s Études de nu. There’s also an exploration of Krull’s favoured themes — such as the female Parisian working class, modernity and machinery — and techniques. Germaine Krull (1897-1985): A Photographer’s Journey runs from 2 June to 27 September.
Rue Auber, Paris, circa 1928
The Museum of Modern Art, New York. Thomas Walther Collection.
Gift of David H. McAlpin, by exchange
© Estate Germaine Krull, Museum Folkwang, Essen
Germaine Krull — Study for La Folle d’Itteville, 1931
Gelatin silver print, 21.9 x 16.4 cm
Acquired with the support of Yves Rocher, 2011.
Former collection Christian Bouqueret.
Centre Pompidou, Paris. Musée national d’art moderne/Centre de création industrielle
© Estate Germaine Krull, Museum Folkwang, Essen.
Photo © Centre Pompidou, MNAM-CCI, Dist. RMN-Grand Palais / Guy Carrard
Displays: Mannequins, 1928
Amsab-Institute of Social History, Ghent
© Estate Germaine Krull, Museum Folkwang, Essen
Germaine Krull — Nu féminin, 1928
Gelatin silver print, 21.6 x 14.4 cm
Acquired with the support of Yves Rocher, 2011.
Former collection Christian Bouqueret.
Centre Pompidou, Paris. Musée national d’art moderne/Centre de création industrielle
© Estate Germaine Krull, Museum Folkwang, Essen
Photo © Centre Pompidou, MNAM-CCI, Dist. RMN-Grand Palais / Guy Carrard
Hans Basler — Portait de Germaine Krull, Berlin, 1922
Gelatin silver print, 15.9 x 22 cm
Museum Folkwang, Essen
© Estate Germaine Krull, Museum Folkwang, Essen
Germaine Krull — 100 x Paris, 1929
Couverture, Verlag der Reihe, Berlin-Westend 24.3 x 17.3 cm
Private collection © Estate Germaine Krull, Museum Folkwang, Essen
Germaine Krull — Nudes, 1924
Gelatin silver print, 16.3 x 22.2 cm
Collection Dietmar Siegert
© Estate Germaine Krull, Museum Folkwang, Essen
Pol Rab (Illustrator), 1930
Amsab-Institute of Social History, Ghent
© Estate Germaine Krull, Museum Folkwang, Essen
Germaine Krull — Assia in Profile, circa 1930
Gelatin silver print, 22.2 x 15.8 cm
Collection Bouqueret-Rémy
© Estate Germaine Krull, Museum Folkwang, Essen
Germaine Krull — Métal, 1928
Cover of the portfolio Métal (64 plates) 30 x 23.5 cm
Collection Bouqueret-Rémy © Estate Germaine Krull, Museum Folkwang, Essen
Germaine Krull — Advertisement Gibbs.
L’Illustration, n°4533, 18 January 1930 36.7 x 27.8 cm
Private collection © Estate Germaine Krull, Museum Folkwang, Essen
Germaine Krull — Self-portrait with Icarette, circa 1925
Gelatin silver print, 23.6 x 17.5 cm
Acquired with the support of Yves Rocher, 2011.
Former Christian Bouqueret collection Centre Pompidou, Paris.
Musée national d’art moderne/Centre de création industrielle.
© Estate Germaine Krull, Museum Folkwang, Essen
Photo © Centre Pompidou, MNAM-CCI, Dist. RMN-Grand Palais /
image Centre Pompidou, MNAM-CCI
