1 - Peter Keetman 1916–2005

Peter Keetman 1916–2005 Collection of masterpieces in photoform and subjective photography, 339 photographs, beginning in the 1930s and continuing thereafter A representative cross-section of his entire photographic oeuvre, consisting almost exclusively of signed original prints exploring experiments in perspective, contrast, framing, negative prints, three-dimensional spatial vibration, multiple exposures, and rhythmic distortion—many of which are familiar from publications and exhibitions Built up over the years through contact with the photographer, the collection is not limited to works related to “fotoform,” the critical working group co-founded by Peter Keetman in 1949, initially comprising six photographers seeking to continue the “New Vision” movement—which had been interrupted by the Third Reich—with the shaped single image as its ideal goal; the group’s informal dissolution in 1952–53 did not call this goal into question, but rather adapted it to a newer era in a relevant and dynamic way as subjective photography, also in connection with international trends in contemporary photographic imagery What the collection contains: from books, among other things, photographic documentation of the Orff School, the Volkswagen factory, and the portfolio “Die Sonne”; early photographs from before 1939; experimental photography and multiple exposures from the late 1940s and subsequent years; close-ups of the elements air and water; light phenomena, phenomena related to the sky and weather, unusual perspectives—including those of industrial products and natural phenomena—landscape structures in variations reflecting weather conditions, including in close-up details, portraits and the dissolution of portraits, the transformation of light into ornament, light depicted in rhythmographic snapshots, industrial details of furnishings and equipment, as well as studies of everyday phenomena—preferably in a spiritual connection with the elements and forces of nature Enclosed are approximately 200 small-format prints for review and sample purposes Any reference to the publication of these photographs is superfluous, since Peter Keetman worked for a time as a photographer for an advertising agency and his images thus achieved wide circulation. In addition, there are images from his own published books and exhibitions; for example, in this collection, the *Spiegelnde Tropfen* (*Reflecting Drops*), as seen in Otto Steinert’s first exhibition on subjective photography in 1951 in Saarbrücken. A focused visual re-encounter in three authoritative monographs on his work: F.C. Gundlach, *Peter Keetman fotoform*, Berlin 1987 / R. Sachse, *Peter Keetman: Movement and Structure*, Los Angeles 1996 / F.C. Gundlach, *Peter Keetman: The Shaped World*, Göttingen 2016 Various formats, mostly approx. 18:24 cm, up to mammoth format You can view the complete collection of 339 photographs online here: https://schneider-henn.pixieset.com/sammlungfotografienpeterkeetman/ or download it as a PDF here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/18AyF5jlsBvfgkcuOP3V7AFw2TKLpIy2o/view?usp=sharing. Or view the PDF catalog under Auction Information / Presentation.