Those who are interested in the history of their city appreciate Seidenstücker’s atmospheric shots of everyday life in Berlin during the Weimar Republic. He developed a truly legendary reputation among animal and zoo lovers with his sensitive animal studies, and his powerful shots of the destroyed city of Berlin represent a valuable resource for historians.
Even though Seidenstücker is regarded as a typical Berlin photographer, he is also known far beyond the city limits - not least because he paid outstanding attention to one aspect in particular: his pictures reveal a sense of humour which is rarely found in photography. Friedrich Seidenstücker’s oeuvre evolved from this approach: founded in optimism, but never drawing a veil over the appalling conditions, harshness, poverty and misery of his age.
With this retrospective, the Berlinische Galerie will be continuing its very successful series of exhibitions aiming for an academic approach to the work of great 20th century photographers, so making it available to a wide audience. Previous exhibitions in the series focused on Heinrich Zille, Erich Salomon, Fritz Kühn and Herbert Tobias.
The exhibition is allowed by the generous financial support from the Friends of the Berlinische Galerie (Förderverein der Berlinischen Galerie e.V.).