Photography from 1839 to the 1970s
unknown artist, Coney Island, 1950-1960 © Collection by Jacques Herzog und Pierre de Meuron Kabinett, Basel.
Ruth and Peter Herzog have built one of the most important photography collections, which now encompasses no fewer than five hundred thousand artifacts. It is a photographic encyclopedia of life in the industrial age. Ranging from the early days of the medium, which was invented in 1839, to the 1970s, the collection’s holdings span the complete history of analog photography, reflecting its manifold developments and physical materials.
The first comprehensive presentation in Switzerland showcases four hundred objects. The exhibition spotlights key themes of the collection and addresses questions around the photography collectors’ work and the relation between archive and museum. It also probes the interplay between photography and art.
The exhibition is being created in cooperation with the Jacques Herzog und Pierre de Meuron Kabinett, Basel.
