Ernst Haas (American/Austrian, 1986)

Ernst Haas (Austrian, born March 2, 1921–died September 12, 1986) was an influential photographer most recognized for his innovations in color photography as well as his use of abstract light. In his early years, Haas was set on becoming a doctor, attending medical school in Austria. In 1947, he had a change of direction, and left school to become a staff photographer for Heute magazine. He won acclaim for his photo essay about Vienna prisoners of war coming home. He also received an offer to join Magnum Photos.

In 1953, Haas moved to New York, NY, and produced a color photo essay for LIFE on the city. The magazine commissioned additional spreads on Venice and Paris from Haas. Popular Photography magazine considered Haas to be one of the top 10 photographers in the world by 1958. In 1962, The Museum of Modern Art hosted a solo exhibition of his color photographs. Haas published his first photo book, Elements, in 1963.

Haas was famous for his intentionally out of focus photographs. In 1964, Haas was hired to direct the creation sequence for the film The Bible. The year 1971 brought about Haas’s development of a photo book called The Creation. He also worked on The Misfits in 1961, Hello, Dolly! in 1969, Little Big Man in 1970, and Heaven’s Gate in 1980. In 1986, the Hasselblad Award was given to Haas for his photography.

Haas created several books throughout his career, including In America in 1975, Deutschland in 1977, and Himalayan Pilgrimage in 1978. Prior to his death in 1986, Haas was working on chapter ideas and picture layouts for a book that he never finished. His children and former colleagues finished the book, A Colour Retrospective 1952–1986, which was published in 1989 by Thames and Hudson. The book provided an insight into Haas’s photographic philosophy.

Timeline

1921
Born on March 2 in Vienna, Austria
1935–1938
Attended highschool at the LEH Grinzing in Vienna
1939
Received diploma from the Rainier Gymnasium, Vienna
1941
Entered the Graphische Lehr und Versuchsanstalt (Graphic Arts Institute) in Vienna; left after one semester
1943–1945
Worked in a photographic studio in Vienna
1949
Began working for Heute, and offered a job as staff photographer by LIFE magazine, which he declined
Joined Magnum magazine instead
1951
Won Gold Medal Art Directors Club of New York for Essay on New York
1952
Honor Roll, American Society of Magazine Photographers
1953
Traveled to Asia to cover the Vietnam war
1954
Leavitt Award, American Society of Magazine Photographers
1955
Traveled to Indonesia
1950–1958
Photographs for LIFE magazine
1958
The Art Directors Club Medal Special Award, Art Directors Club of New York
1958
Newhouse Award, Syracuse University
1960
Gold Medal, Art Directors Club of New York
1960
Shot movie stills for The Misfits
1961
Gold Medal, Art Directors Club of Philadelphia
1962
Medal for Architectural Photography, The American Institute of Architects
1963
Silver Medal, Designers & Art Directors Association of London
1967
Newhouse Award, S.I. Newhouse Citation, Syracuse University
1968
Indian government invited him to visit and document the plight of Tibetan refugees
1971
Honor Roll, American Society of Magazine Photographers
1972
American Society of Magazine Photographers Honor Roll
Der Kulturpreis der Deutschen Gesellschaft fur Photographie (German Photographic Society)
1973
Ehrenzeichens in Gold, Bundeskammer der Gewerblichen Wirtschaft, Wien
1972–1974
First assignment for Marlboro cigarettes, an account that would continue for 12 years
1976
Kodak Fotobuchpreis for IN DEUTSCHLAND
1977
Produces larger color print ever produced until this time an 18-by-60-foot print Impalas Grazing at Grand Central Station
1978
Wilson Hicks Award, University of Miami
1979
Executive Chamber Citation, State of New York
1980
Merit Award, Art Directors Club of New York
1982
Annual Playboy Editorial Award
1983
Award of Distinctive Merit, Society of Publication Design XVII
1985
The Photographic Administrator AWard for Creative Achievement
Honorary Master of Science in Professional Photography, Brooks INstitute, Santa Barbara, CA
1986
Ema and Victor Hasselblad Foundation Gold Medal and Photographic Prize
Leica Medal of Excellence: Master of Photography
Goldens Verdienstkreuz des Landes Wien, Austria
The Hasselblad Foundation International Award in Photography
1986
Died of a stroke on September 12.

Exhibitions

2001
Ann Shanks Gallery, Sheffield, Mass. ERNST HAAS: COLOR AND BLACK AND WHITE.
2000
Soho Triad Fine Arts, New York. ERNST HAAS : NEW YORK.
2000
Maine Coast Artists, Rockport, Maine. PHOTOGRAPHING MAINE: 1840–2000.
Leica Gallery, New York, PHOTOGRAPHING AUSTRIA.
International Center of Photography, New York, REFLECTIONS IN A GLASS EYE, Works from the International Center of Photography Collection.
Brooke Alexander, New York, PHOTOGRAPHS OF NEW YORK.
Whitney Museum of Art, New York, EDWARD STEICHEN, Haas photographs included in the partial recreation of the Family of Man Exhibition.
1998
Michael Hoppen Photography, London, U.K. ONLY TIME WILL TELL. 1999 Connoly's, London, U.K. CONTOUR AND COLOUR: ERNST HAAS AN EXHIBITION OF COLOUR PHOTOGRAPHY
1997
Uma Gallery, New York City. MATERS IN PHOTOGRAPHY: Alfred Eisenstaedt, Ernst Haas, Andre Kertesz, Eugene Smith, Roman Vishniac 1999 Ann Shanks Gallery, Sheffield, Massachusetts, ERNST HAAS AND W.EUGENE SMITH
1995
Barcelona, Spain. POSTWAR EUROPE, 1945–1965. ART AFTER THE FLOOD.
G.Ray Hawkins Gallery, Santa Monica, CA. ACT II: KISSING
1994
Paris, London, MAGNUM AND THE CINEMA.
USA and Europe. MAGIC MOMENTS, 40 YEARS OF LEICA PHOTOGRAPHY.
Howard Greenberg Gallery, New York City. APPEAL TO THIS AGE: THE PHOTOGRAPHY OF THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT, 1954–1968
1994
A.O.I. Gallery, Santa Fe, New Mexico. REDISCOVERY OF A NEW VISION. (solo)
Kathleen Ewing Gallery, Washington, D.C. ERNST HAAS IN BLACK AND WHITE.
Etherton Gallery, Tucson, Arizona. ERNST HAAS IN BLACK AND WHITE.
1993
The Camera Obscura Gallery, Denver, Colorado. ERNST HAAS IN BLACK AND WHITE.
1992
International Center of Photography, Midtown. ERNST HAAS IN BLACK AND WHITE
Howard Greenberg Gallery, New York City. American Photographs 1950-1975 1993 A.O.I. Gallery, Santa Fe, New Mexico. UNPUBLISHED BLACK AND WHITE IMAGES.
1988–1989
New York, International Center of Photography. MASTER PHOTOGRAPHS FROM "PHOTOGRAPHY IN THE FINE ARTS" EXHIBITIONS, 1959–1967.
1987
Paris, Palais de Tokyo. LE TEMPS D'UN MOUVEMENT: AVENTURES ET MESAVENTURES DE L'INSTANT PHOTOGRAPHIQUE. Organized by the Centre National de la Photographie.
1987
Gothenborg, Sweden. Rshsska Konstslsjdmuseet. ERNST HAAS.
1986
Rochester, Rochester Institute of Technology. TO SEE, TO BE. (solo)
Houston, Larry Kauffman Galleries. ERNST HAAS PHOT0GRAPHS.
Newton Upper Falls, Mass., Silver Visions Gallery. ERNST HAAS.
Vienna, Museum des 20. Jahrhunderts. 1921 ERNST HAAS 1986.
1986
Hanover, Hood Museum of Art, Dartmouth College. IN SPITE OF EVERYTHING, YES.
1985
New York, Pace/McGill Gallery. PHOTOGRAPHS FROM THE MAGNUM ARCHIVES 1932–1967.
Beijing, Workers' Cultural Palace. NEW YORK - THE CITY AND ITS PEOPLE.
1985
Santa Barbara, Calif., Western States Museum of Photography. ERNST HAAS.
1983–1985
Vienna, Graz, and Linz; Museum des 20. Jahrhunderts, Neue Galerie am Landesmuseum Joanneum und Kunstlerhaus, and Neue Galerie der Stadt Linz. GESCHICHTE DER FOTOGRAFIE IN ·STERREICH. (The History of Photography in Austria).
1984
St. Louis Botanical Garden (solo)
1983
Vienna, Stadthalle. FOTOGRAFIE 83.
1982
Washington, D.C., Corcoran Gallery of Art; Rochester, New York, International Museum of Photography at George Eastman House. COLOR AS FORM: A HISTORY OF COLOR PHOTOGRAPHY.
1982
Salzburg, Galerie Fotohof. ERNST HAAS: HEIMKEHRER. (Returning Soldiers).
1980–1981
New York, International Center of Photography; Tucson, University of Arizona; The Minneapolis Institute of Arts; Long Beach, The Art Galleries, California State University; Wilmington, Delaware Art Museum.
1980
S?o Paulo, Museu de Arte de Sao Paulo. FOTOGRAFIA ARTE E USO (Photography, Art, and Usage).
Cologne, Photokina. GLANZLICHTER DER PHOTOGRAPHIE: 30 JAHRE PHOTOKINA BILDERSCHAUEN. (Highlights of Photography: 30 Years of Looking at Pictures).
Princeton, The Squibb Gallery. I SING THE BODY ELECTRIC.
1980
Minneapolis, Elayne Art Gallery. THE CREATION. (solo)
1979
New York, Fifth Avenue stores. CELEBRATION: NEW YORK IN COLOR.
Innsbruck, Linz, Graz, and Vienna; Tiroler Landesmuseum Ferdinandeum, Neue Galerie am Wolfgang Gurlitt Museum, Neue Galerie am Landesmuseum Joanneum, Museum des 20. Jahrhunderts. PHOTOGRAPHIE ALS KUNST 1879–1979, KUNST ALS PHOTOGRAPHIE 1949–1979.
Venice. VENEZIA '79: LA FOTOGRAFIA. Exhibited at various locations throughout the municipality.
1978
New York, The Museum of Modern Art. MIRRORS AND WINDOWS: AMERICAN PHOTOGRAPHY SINCE 1960.
1978
Cologne, Photokina. IN DEUTSCHLAND. (solo)
New York, Space Gallery. THE CREATION AND OTHER DYES. (solo)
1977
Milan, Sezione Culturale, Comune di Milano. SICOF' '77.
1976–1977
Madrid, La Fotogalerâa. ERNST HAAS.
1976
New York, Space Gallery. ERNST HAAS.
New York, International Center of Photography, and Port Washington Public Library. ERNST HAAS: AN AMERICAN EXPERIENCE.
1976
Cologne, Kunsthalle Kslnischer Kunstverein Forum. PHOTOKINA: WELTMESSE DER PHOTOGRAPHIE.
Vienna, Rathaus, Volkshalle. REFLECTIONS: IMAGES OF AMERICA.
1975–1976
New Haven, Yale University Art Gallery. COLOR PHOTOGRAPHY: INVENTORS AND INNOVATORS, 1850–1975.
1975
New York, Austrian Institute. ERNST HAAS: POSTWAR PHOTOGRAPHS 1945–1949.
1974
Vienna, Kulturhaus der Stadt Graz im Steirischen Herbst '74, Museum des 20. Jahrhunderts. KREATIVE FOTOGRAFIE AUS ·STERREICH.
1973
Jerusalem, The Israel Museum. THE CONCERNED PHOTOGRAPHER 2. Organized by Cornell Capa in cooperation with The International Fund for Concerned Photography and traveled throughout Europe and the United States.
Hamburg, 3. WELTAUSTELLUNG DER PHOTOGRAPHIE: UNTERWEGS ZUM PARADIES. (3rd World Exhibition of Photography: The Path to Paradise).
1973
Eisenstadt, Landesgalerie im Schloss Esterhazy. ERNST HAAS: HEIMKEHRER. (Returning Soldiers).
Vienna, ·sterreichisches Museum fÄr Angewandte Kunst. ERNST HAAS: DIE SCHOPFUNG. (The Creation).
Vienna, ·sterreichisches Museum fÄr Angewandte Kunst. ERNST HAAS: DIE SCHOPFUNG. (The Creation). (solo)
1972–1973
London, Camden Arts Center. PHOTOGRAPHY INTO ART: AN INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITION OF PHOTOGRAPHY. Sponsored by The Arts Council of Great Britain.
1972
Vienna and Graz, Museum des 20. Jahrhunderts; Kulturhaus, Kulturamt der Stadt Graz. ERNST HAASÑNACHKRIEG. (After the War).
Cologne, Photokina. ERNST HAAS: DIE SCH·PFUNG. (The Creation).
1971
New York, Rizzoli Gallery. THE CREATION. (solo)
1968–1971
New York, Asia House Gallery. ANGKOR AND BALl: TWO WORLDS OF ERNST HAAS. Under the auspices of The American Federation of Arts traveled to Allingdale, Mich., Grand Valley State College; Toronto, Royal Ontario Museum; Columbia, Mo., Stephens College; Canada, University of Manitoba; Kent, Conn., Kent BoysÕ School; Fayetteville, University of Arkansas.
1967
Ottawa, The National Gallery of Canada. PHOTOGRAPHY IN THE 20TH CENTURY. Organized by The George Eastman House of Photography and traveled to Saskatoon, The Mendel Art Center; Sherbrooke, Quebec, Sherbrook? University Art Gallery; Kingston, The Agnes Etherington Art Center, Queens University.
1966
Lincoln, Sheldon Memorial Art Gallery, University of Nebraska. AMERICAN PHOTOGRAPHY: THE SIXTIES.
1965
New York, Gallery of Modern Art. IPEX.
1965
THE ART OF SEEING. An exhibition organized by Kodak that traveled to Mexico, England, France, Germany, Austria, Spain, Holland, Belgium, Finland, Southeast Asia, Japan, and Brazil.
1964
St. Louis, Steinberg Hall, Washington University. ERNST HAAS / COLOR PHOTOGRAPHY.
New York, The IBM Gallery. POETRY IN COLOR. (solo)
1964
Hamburg, Kunsthallen und Kulturinstituten. WELTAUSSTELLUNG DER PHOTOGRAPHIE. (World Exhibition of Photography).
New York, The Museum of Modern Art. THE PHOTO ESSAY.
1963
ERNST HAAS WORLD OF COLOR, One-man show sponsored by Eastman Kodak, Exhibited on five different continents.
1962
New York, The Museum of Modern Art. ERNST HAAS: COLOR PHOTOGRAPHY.
Sponsored by Manchini Newspaper, Japan, ERNST HAAS: COLOR PHOTOGRAPHY.
1960
Cologne, Germany, Photokina. ERNST HAAS.
1960
THE WORLD AS SEEN BY MAGNUM PHOTOGRAPHERS. Organized by Magnum Photos with the cooperation of the Mainichi Newspapers of Japan and circulated throughout the world.
New York, The Metropolitan Museum of Art. PHOTOGRAPHY IN THE FINE ARTS.
1959
Rochester, George Eastman House. PHOTOGRAPHY AT MID-CENTURY.
New York, The Metropolitan Museum of Art. PHOTOGRAPHY IN THE FINE ARTS. 1960 New York, The Museum of Modern Art. THE SENSE OF ABSTRACTION IN CONTEMPORARY PHOTOGRAPHY.
1957–1958
New York, The Museum of Modern Art. SEVENTY PHOTOGRAPHERS LOOK AT NEW YORK.
1955
New York, The Museum of Modern Art. THE FAMILY OF MAN.
Paris, Grand Palais. BIENNALE DE LA PHOTO ET DU CIN°MA DE PARIS.
1953
New York, The Museum of Modern Art. POSTWAR EUROPEAN PHOTOGRAPHY.
1951
New York, The Museum of Modern Art. MEMORABLE LlFE PHOTOGRAPHS.
1947
American Red Cross Headquarters, Vienna, Austria (solo)

Literature

1992
"Ernst Haas in Black and White" (Bulfinch, 1992)
1989
"Ernst Haas: Color Photography" (Harry N. Abrams, 1989)
1978
"Himalayan Pilgrimage" (Viking Press, 1978)
1977
"In Germany" (Viking Press, 1977)
1975
"In America" (Viking Press, 1975)
1971
"The Creation" (Viking Press, 1971)