Albert Renger-Patzsch

Following WWI, Albert Renger-Patzsch took over the management of the Folkwang-Auriga publishing company’s photographic archive after dropping out of his studies of chemistry. In the 1920s, he began his first photographic project for the book series “Die Welt der Pflanze” (the world of plants). As of 1925 he began documenting the industrial landscape of the Ruhr region. He also carried out photography contracts for advertising, products and industry. In 1928 Renger-Patzsch’s book “Die Welt ist schön” (The World is Beautiful) was published and it became a seminal work for the Neue Sachlichkeit (new objectivity) movement. A significant portion of his archive was destroyed by bombs in WWII. In 1944 he moved to Wamel near Soest and began to concentrate more on landscape photography and the publishing of books.