Beakers
Photograph
1934 (made)
1934 (made)
| Artist/Maker |
German photographer Albert Renger-Patzsch was a leading proponent of the Neue Sachlichkeit (or New Objectivity) movement that was popular in 1920s Europe. Neue Sachlichkeit advocated an approach to photography that assigns the role of impartial observer to the photographer. By embracing the camera’s ability to capture the real world in a clear, apparently objective matter, Renger-Patzch felt he was revealing the true, inherent beauty of his subjects. In 1928 he published ‘The World is Beautiful’, a book of 100 photographs of nature and industry taken in precision detail with great care to styling and lighting.
This photograph of beakers from the Schott Glassworks factory exemplifies Renger-Patzsch’s approach to photographing everyday objects. Here, industrial glass beakers are carefully arranged and lit to create a delicately composed image. This elevates the subject matter from something unremarkable to an exquisite still life, made pleasing through its perfect clarity and balance.
This photograph of beakers from the Schott Glassworks factory exemplifies Renger-Patzsch’s approach to photographing everyday objects. Here, industrial glass beakers are carefully arranged and lit to create a delicately composed image. This elevates the subject matter from something unremarkable to an exquisite still life, made pleasing through its perfect clarity and balance.
Object details
| Category | |
| Object type | |
| Title | Beakers (assigned by artist) |
| Materials and techniques | Gelatin silver print. |
| Brief description | Photograph by Albert Renger-Patzsch, 'Beakers', gelatin silver print, 1934. |
| Physical description | Photograph showing 8 glass beakers of differing sizes, sat on a reflective surface, against a featureless backdrop. |
| Dimensions |
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| Summary | German photographer Albert Renger-Patzsch was a leading proponent of the Neue Sachlichkeit (or New Objectivity) movement that was popular in 1920s Europe. Neue Sachlichkeit advocated an approach to photography that assigns the role of impartial observer to the photographer. By embracing the camera’s ability to capture the real world in a clear, apparently objective matter, Renger-Patzch felt he was revealing the true, inherent beauty of his subjects. In 1928 he published ‘The World is Beautiful’, a book of 100 photographs of nature and industry taken in precision detail with great care to styling and lighting. This photograph of beakers from the Schott Glassworks factory exemplifies Renger-Patzsch’s approach to photographing everyday objects. Here, industrial glass beakers are carefully arranged and lit to create a delicately composed image. This elevates the subject matter from something unremarkable to an exquisite still life, made pleasing through its perfect clarity and balance. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | PH.275-1982 |
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| Record created | June 30, 2009 |
| Record URL |
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