Masters of Photography. Martin Gerlach

October 7 2016 to January 8 2017

From 7 October, the Rijksmuseum will exhibit a previously unknown series of photographs by the Austro-German photographer Martin Gerlach (1846-1918).

The photographs are from the book Festons und Decorative Gruppen (1897-1898), a book of examples that artists used for inspiration. The photographs feature curious collages of plants, animals and objects. They represent a transition, but at the same time are so baroque that they are positively peculiar.

Masters of Photography: Martin Gerlach will be on show from 7 October through 8 January 2017 in the Rijksmuseum’s Photo Gallery.

Books of examples

During the nineteenth century, photographs were revolutionary in disseminating images. One of the genres that experienced an increase in scale was the book of examples. Books of examples were in keeping with a long tradition and were used by artists as an inspiration for their own work. At that time, it was fashionable to portray simple compositions of plants, animals and objects. The genre reached its peak during the 1890s; the years in which Martin Gerlach published Festons und Decorative Gruppen.

Martin Gerlach

gerlach Festons und decorative Gruppen nebst einem Zieralphabete aus Pflanzen und Thieren Jagd-, Touristen- und anderen Geräthen serie 1, Martin Gerlach, 1897 (detail)The Austro-German Martin Gerlach (1846-1918) was an industrial designer who was primarily known as a publisher of books of examples, among others. In 1893, he published the first edition of Festons und Decorative Gruppen … aus Pflanzen und Thieren, Jagd-, Touristen- und andere Geräthen, of which the Rijksmuseum has a third (and also last) edition. Gerlach did not limit himself to the usual simple compositions but created 140 vibrant and complex works, which formed a visual spectacle. Festons und Decorative Gruppen is an exceptional series in a genre that was experiencing a true Golden Age at that time. Gerlach’s photographs point the way forward to the early 20th century photographs of Karl Blossfeldt.

Hans Rooseboom, Curator of Photography: ‘Festons und Decorative Gruppen is one of the most notable books illustrated using photographs of around 1900 and is a peculiar and different series within the world of photography.’

From 7 October 2016 through 8 January 2017, the Rijksmuseum will exhibit ninety of Gerlach’s exceptional compositions in the Photography Gallery.