The exhibition "Ernst Ludwig Kirchner: Between Painting and Photography"delves into the unique interplay between painting and photography in the painter's oeuvre. The exhibition showcases Kirchner's innovative use of photography – not necessarily as an independent medium of art production but as a tool preceding his paintings, significantly shaping his motifs, painting style, and compositions.
By presenting a comprehensive overview of Kirchner's photographic work alongside the painting collection of the Kirchner Museum Davos, the exhibition aims to shed light on Kirchner's contribution to the osmotic connection between these two media and highlight how photography, in the hands of a masterful painter, became an integral tool.
The members of the Kirchner Association are cordially invited to catch their first glimpse of the paintings presented in the exhibition "Ernst Ludwig Kirchner: Between Painting and Photography"at the preview on June 14, 2025, before the official opening of the exhibition. During the preview, interesting background information will be provided. At the subsequent aperitif, all visitors are invited to share their impressions with one another.
There will be a panel discussion between Katharina Beisiegel and Prof. Bettina Gockel (University of Zurich).
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Prof. Dr. Bettina Gockel is a German-Swiss art historian and author, born in 1966 in Paderborn [1]. She is Professor of the History of Visual Arts at the University of Zurich, where she also directs the Center for the Theory and History of Photography [1][2]. Her research interests include the history of visual arts in a global context, the theory and history of photography, the relationship between art and natural science, as well as art history in the digital age [1][3]. She studied Art History, Modern German Literature, Theater Studies, and Archaeology in Munich and Hamburg, received her doctorate with a dissertation on Thomas Gainsborough, and completed her Habilitation at the University of Tübingen [1]. She has held various research stays and visiting professorships, including at the Max Planck Institute for the History of Science in Berlin and the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton [1][4]. She is the editor and author of numerous publications, including the book "The Colors of Photography" [2][5].