Karl Schenker (1886-1954) was a master of photography. Born in Poland, he moved to Berlin in the 1920s. There he quickly became known for his glamourous portraits. Stars and starlets queued up to be photographed by him. His pictures adorned the covers of magazines such as DIE DAME, the ‘illustrated fashion magazine’ published by Ullstein Verlag.
He was a pioneer in retouching and set new standards. His techniques were revolutionary and were imitated by many. His work was not only technically brilliant, but also artistically valuable.
In the 1930s, Schenker had to flee from the Nazis. He emigrated to London, where he continued his career. There, too, he quickly found recognition and worked for renowned magazines. Despite the difficult circumstances, he did not let them get him down and remained true to his art.
Schenker was not only a photographer, but also a painter. His paintings were just as impressive as his photographs. They often showed the same attention to detail and sense of aesthetics.
A remarkable exhibition showcasing his work was held at the Museum Ludwig in Cologne. This exhibition showed around 250 works, including photographic portraits, fashion and wax figure shots, magazine covers, a large-format drawing and a painting. Angela Merkel as a young politician in the 1990s.
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