Bertolt Brecht, Paris 1938

1938

German, 1896-1984

Breitenbach began his work as a portraitist in Munich in the 1930s, photographing members of the theater community as a commercial venture. Under suspicion by the Nazis for the Socialist leanings of his youth, Breitenbach fled to Paris in 1933 before ultimately moving to the U.S. In Paris, he continued his work as a portrait photographer. He settled in a community of fellow German exiles that included the legendary figure of modern theater, Bertolt Brecht. This photograph captures Brecht's intense persona while it demonstrates Breitenbach's masterful use of light and shadow.

Gelatin Silver Print

13 7/8 x 11 in. (35.24 x 27.94 cm)

Gift of Peter C. Jones

94.78

Not currently on view

Resources

Exhibition HistorySeattle, Washington, Seattle Art Museum, "Anselm Kiefer and Germanic Tradition",
June 4, 1999 - January 2, 2000

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