Hilde Lotz-Bauer in Florence

The interest in photography as the preferred medium of art history has already been proven in scientific historical studies of our subject area. The legend that documentary photography is neutral was unmasked a long time ago: The reproduction of works of art could and continues to make use of technology that is continually evolving and also make use of sophisticated means of expression, behind which the Zeitgeist and the personality of the photographer can be found. Hilde Lotz-Bauer (1907-1999) is an excellent example of this; she combines the perspectives of the art historian and the professional photographer in her work. The photo library of the Kunsthistorisches Institute in Florence acquired the photographs that she produced in Florence between 1939 and 1943 thanks to purchases and donations in the 1970s and 1980s. The collection of about 750 photographs can be viewed in the Digital Photo Library on the Internet. Tamara Hufschmidt will carry out an academic study of these photographs as part of a larger project. The selection made for this online exhibition has been enriched by a small number of photographs which Lotz-Bauer took in Rome and which come from the archive of Franz Schlechter, of Heidelberg, Germany. We would like to thank him for giving us this opportunity. This initiative is the starting point for the photo library to kick off more intensive studies of its photographic inventory, which, thanks to the rich history of the institute, has a historical value over and above the function of documenting works of art and architecture. In addition, the exhibition is a homage to an exceptional photographer on the occasion of her 100th birthday.

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