Photographs are one of the few mediums that can become a part of our collective memory and continue to nudge our consciousness to transform. The mark a picture can leave is indelible, and the medium has repeatedly proved that even when the creator of the photograph no longer walks the Earth, some of their images continue to live on and change the world. To honor photographers who have dedicated their lives to documenting the human condition, Leica has announced the prestigious Leica Hall of Fame. And this year, the award goes to a renowned German photographer, Herlinde Koelbl.
The Leica Hall of Fame was established in 2011, and since then, it has honored Steve McCurry, Nick Út, René Burri, Thomas Hoepker, and Ara Güler, amongst others. Joining the list is Herlinde Koelbl, who has created unparalleled works throughout their five-decade-long career. Born in 1939, Herlinde is a woman of many talents; she is an author, a photographer, and someone who always sees the intricate fragility of the world. Through her documentary images and personal statements by the people she photographs, Koelbl has captured a spectrum of narratives with dedication. For instance, her Jewish Portraits project of 1989 exemplifies her unique approach, where she utilized black and white photographs and long interviews to provide an in-depth and emotional view of German history.
Using 35mm Leica cameras and her medium format with a Hasselblad., However, Koelbl found immense fame in 1991 due to her series Traces of Power—The Transformation of People Through Governance. For this, she observed and worked with German politicians for over eight years, including Iron Lady Angela Merkel, with whom she collaborated up until 2021. The images from the Traces of Power—Angela Merkel 1991–2021 series became an exhibit that portrayed how she worked: with curiosity, impartiality, authenticity, and no prejudice.
As part of the Leica Hall of Fame celebration of her lifetime achievement, 47 works from ten different Koelbl series will be displayed, providing insightful glimpses into the photographer’s rich career. The exhibition will be on display until January 19, 2025. In addition, one of Koelbl’s photographs has also been chosen for the Leica Picture of the Year 2024. The image, which is a part of her Metamorphoses series, will be available as a limited-edition print at Leica Galleries.
In the long line of my projects, this is the first time that there are no people to be seen. Yet the main theme that characterizes my work has remained: change, transience. A kind of visual archaeology that overlaps or even collides with the images or ideas we think we know. The present and the past flow into each other. And in reappearance lies the future.
Herlinde Koelbl
The Leica Hall of Fame is a great initiative to pay tribute to photographers who have dedicated their lives to the medium. In Koelbl’s images, we not only observe the humanity of political leaders, often portrayed as confident figures, but also how each of us is uniquely different. The images from her bedroom series illustrate that while one couple lives in what seems like a modest luxury, in another, the deer antlers make a striking contrast, leading to endless questions. But there is also tenderness to her pictures, as seen in the image of the man holding the woman. Despite decades apart, the image will resonate with many. Her 50-year-long journey has inspired generations of photographers, not only in Germany but around the world.
For more information, visit the Leica Hall of Fame’s website.