Hans Finsler: Neue Wege der Photographie

Warning: There are no jokes or witty observations in this description. Lower your expectations but do keep in mind that Hans Finsler (1891—1972) is one of the most prominent representatives of the “New Photography” of the 1920s. In 1932, he took over the newly founded professional class for photography at the School of Arts and Crafts (Kunstgewerbeschule) in Zurich. This marked a milestone in the history of Swiss photography: it was a novelty for a school of arts and crafts to make photography a subject of study. Finsler helped “New Vision” (Neues Sehen)—and thus a style of photography that sought to free itself from everything that was not specifically photographic—achieve a breakthrough, finding its own formal language in the process. For over thirty years, until his retirement in 1958, Finsler defined photographic education and had an influence extending beyond the school and Zurich. This book was published on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of Hans Finsler’s birth; he is presented as a photographer, educator, publicist, and president of the Swiss Werkbund. The photographs taken during his time in Halle from 1926 to 1932 are the starting point and essence of his work and are impressively showcased here. From the library of Inge Druckrey.