Berliner Originale VOL. I: ROBERT LEBECK

In the organizer's words:

Berliner Originale and BerlinDiscoveries are our new formats for photography from the capital. Once a year, f³ - freiraum für fotografie transforms into a platform that makes the diversity of photographic positions from Berlin visible. In two parallel exhibitions, we present iconic works by renowned photographers from Berlin and offer the opportunity to discover new talents.

No one is better suited to kick off this series than Berlin native Robert Lebeck. He is one of the defining figures of photo reportage in post-war Germany. In an era in which the country was reorienting itself and world politics was in flux, he found a visual language that not only documented but also told a story. Born in Berlin in 1929, the self-taught photographer worked as a photo reporter for various newspapers and magazines such as Revue and Kristall from 1952. He worked for Stern magazine for over three decades. His work, characterized by empathy and curiosity, is the visual memory of the young Federal Republic of Germany.

Lebeck traveled around the world and photographed in metropolises as well as in the provinces, at political events and in everyday life. He portrayed politicians, artists and intellectuals as well as people far removed from the public eye. All of his photographs bear witness to closeness and capture his subjects in authentic moments of openness.

His reportage from the Congo in 1960 became famous: a young man snatches the sword from the Belgian king during the independence celebrations - a brief fleeting moment in which the end of colonial power relations comes to light. Such photographs made Lebeck a chronicler of upheaval. But his quiet observations behind the scenes of major events are just as important: the world star Romy Schneider in impressive vulnerability, exhausted prisoners of war returning home in the Friedland camp, celebrating Elvis Presley fans in East Berlin or the mourning Jaqueline Kennedy at the coffin of her husband, the President of the USA who was assassinated in 1963.

Robert Lebeck was an innovator of photo reportage: his pictures combine journalistic accuracy with poetic density. They tell of a changing world - and of the people in it.

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Berliner Originale and BerlinDiscoveries are our new formats for photography from the capital. Once a year, f³ - freiraum für fotografie transforms into a platform that makes the diversity of photographic perspectives from Berlin visible. In two parallel exhibitions, we present iconic works by renowned photographers from Berlin and offer the opportunity to discover new talents.

As the opening of this series, no one is more fitting than the native Berliner Robert Lebeck. He is one of the defining figures of photojournalism in postwar Germany. In an era when the country was reorienting itself and global politics were in flux, he developed a visual language that did more than document, it told stories. Born in Berlin in 1929, the self-taught photographer began working as a photojournalist in 1952, initially for various newspapers, and later for illustrated magazines such as Revue and Kristall. He worked for over three decades for the magazine Stern. His work, shaped by empathy and curiosity, forms the visual memory of the young Federal Republic.

Lebeck traveled around the world and photographed in major cities as well as rural regions, at political events and in everyday life. He portrayed politicians, artists, and intellectuals just as much as people far removed from the public eye. All of his photographs convey a sense of closeness and capture his subjects in authentic moments of openness.

He became famous for his 1960 report from the Congo: during the independence celebrations, a young man snatches the ceremonial sword from the King of the Belgians, a single fleeting moment in which the end of colonial power structures becomes visible. Such photographs established Robert Lebeck as a chronicler of times of upheaval. Yet his quieter observations behind the scenes of major events are just as significant: the world star Romy Schneider in striking vulnerability, exhausted prisoners of war returning home at the Friedland camp, Elvis Presley fans celebrating in East Berlin, or the grieving Jacqueline Kennedy at the coffin of her husband, the U.S. president who was assassinated in 1963.

Robert Lebeck was a pioneer of photojournalism: his images combine journalistic precision with poetic depth. They tell of a world in transition-and of the people within it.

Price information:

7 € | Reduced 5 € Children up to 12 years receive free admission Reduced tickets are available upon presentation of the appropriate identification: Pupils, students Participants in the Federal Volunteer Service, Voluntary Social Year Unemployed persons, recipients of citizens' allowance, holders of the berlinpass Severely disabled persons (at least 50 v. MdE) // Regular 7 € | Reduced 5 € Children up to 12 years receive free admission. H. MdE) // Regular 7 € | Reduced 5 € Children up to 12 years receive free admission. Reduced tickets are available upon presentation of the appropriate identification: Pupils, students Participants in the Federal Volunteer Service, Voluntary Social Year Recipients of Bürgergeld, berlinpass holders Severely disabled persons (at least 50 % MdE)