Stories and Histories

From July 18 to September 26, 2020, Leica Gallery Nuremberg presents the exhibition West-German Moments 1955-1976 with works by Michael Friedel. Despite being named a ‘Master of the Leica’ in 1967, much of the photographer’s work is less widely recognised than one might assume. His colour reportages for publications such as Quick, Stern and GEO have made history. Yet his earlier, black and white oeuvre – spanning from reportages and keenly observed street scenes to surprising portraits of stars such as Sophia Loren, Elvis Presley or Rainer Werner Fassbinder – has only been rediscovered by a broader audience in recent years.

These images tell stories, but they also capture a slice of history. Leica Gallery Nuremberg has selected some of the most remarkable images from the photographer’s life’s work. Taken in the years from 1955 to 1976, they convey the atmosphere of everyday life in West Germany at a time when the aftermath of World War II was replaced by rapid economic growth and the emergence of a new Western civilisation.

A comprehensive portfolio of the Leica Classic can be seen in the upcoming LFI issue 6/2020, available from August 10, 2020.

For further information visit Leica Gallery Nuremberg