Josef Breitenbach

(American/German, 1896–1984)

Josef Breitenbach was a German artist best known for his experimental photography. In his work, the artist played with a number of techniques, including bleaching, color printing, montage, solarization, and double exposure, to explore the ways in which light and color could alter an image. For example, in his work Shiela, the artist used overexposure to enhance the contrast between his model’s pale skin and dark hair. Born on April 3, 1896 in Munich, Germany to a wine merchant family of Jewish descent, he went on to study philosophy and art history at the Ludwig-Maximillian University in Munich. After completing his education, he began photographing for the Social Democratic Party in Bavaria after World War I. Breitenbach fled Germany during the Nazi’s rise to power due to his political allegiances and Jewish heritage in August of 1933, after nearly being arrested by the Strurmabteilung (SA). After living in Paris for six years, he immigrated to New York, where he was included in Edward Steichen’s 1955 exhibition “The Family of Man” at The Museum of Modern Art. Breitenbach died on October 7, 1984 in New York, NY. Today, Breitenbach’s works are in the collections of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, and the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, among others.

Related Categories

Photography

Related Artists

Harry Callahan, Kenneth Josephson, Alma Lavenson, Ralph Eugene Meatyard, Charles Henry Traub

Josef Breitenbach Artworks

Artworks for Sale &
Auction Results

Josef Breitenbach (313 results)
Fraulein Greno and Dr. Riegler, 1933–1933

Josef Breitenbach

Fraulein Greno and Dr. Riegler, 1933–1933

Sale Date: October 21, 2002

Auction Closed

Mother and child, Java, 1960–1960

Josef Breitenbach

Mother and child, Java, 1960–1960

Sale Date: October 15, 2002

Auction Closed

Korea, 1953–1953

Josef Breitenbach

Korea, 1953–1953

Sale Date: June 6, 2002

Auction Closed

Korea, 1953–1953

Josef Breitenbach

Korea, 1953–1953

Sale Date: June 6, 2002

Auction Closed

Halbakt mit Zigarette, 1933–1933

Josef Breitenbach

Halbakt mit Zigarette, 1933–1933

Sale Date: May 4, 2002

Auction Closed

Akt, Nudistencamp, New Jersey, 1950–1950

Josef Breitenbach

Akt, Nudistencamp, New Jersey, 1950–1950

Sale Date: May 4, 2002

Auction Closed

Akt, Torso, 1950–1950

Josef Breitenbach

Akt, Torso, 1950–1950

Sale Date: May 4, 2002

Auction Closed

Nude, 1963–1963

Josef Breitenbach

Nude, 1963–1963

Sale Date: April 17, 2002

Auction Closed

Fanny, acht Jahre, 1948–1948

Josef Breitenbach

Fanny, acht Jahre, 1948–1948

Sale Date: April 17, 2002

Auction Closed

Fabelsiere, Paris, Notre Dame (Gargoyles), 1928–1928

Josef Breitenbach

Fabelsiere, Paris, Notre Dame (Gargoyles), 1928–1928

Sale Date: April 17, 2002

Auction Closed

Korean bride, 1953–1953

Josef Breitenbach

Korean bride, 1953–1953

Sale Date: March 23, 2002

Auction Closed

Aktportrait, Paris, 1933–1939

Josef Breitenbach

Aktportrait, Paris, 1933–1939

Sale Date: October 5, 2001

Auction Closed

Madame M.K., Paris, 1938–1938

Josef Breitenbach

Madame M.K., Paris, 1938–1938

Sale Date: October 4, 2001

Auction Closed

Bertolt Brecht, 1939–1939

Josef Breitenbach

Bertolt Brecht, 1939–1939

Sale Date: October 3, 2001

Auction Closed

Paris, Rue de la Grande Chaumière, 1937–1937

Josef Breitenbach

Paris, Rue de la Grande Chaumière, 1937–1937

Sale Date: October 3, 2001

Auction Closed

Mother and child, Java, 1960–1960

Josef Breitenbach

Mother and child, Java, 1960–1960

Sale Date: October 2, 2001

Auction Closed

Wassily Kandinsky, Paris, 1938–1938

Josef Breitenbach

Wassily Kandinsky, Paris, 1938–1938

Sale Date: June 28, 2001

Auction Closed

James Joyce, Paris, 1937–1937

Josef Breitenbach

James Joyce, Paris, 1937–1937

Sale Date: April 25, 2001

Auction Closed

Bert Brecht, 1939–1939

Josef Breitenbach

Bert Brecht, 1939–1939

Sale Date: April 25, 2001

Auction Closed

Paris, Rue de la Grande Chaumiére, 1937–1937

Josef Breitenbach

Paris, Rue de la Grande Chaumiére, 1937–1937

Sale Date: April 25, 2001

Auction Closed

Nude, 1950–1950

Josef Breitenbach

Nude, 1950–1950

Sale Date: April 25, 2001

Auction Closed

James Joyce, Paris, 1937–1937

Josef Breitenbach

James Joyce, Paris, 1937–1937

Sale Date: April 25, 2001

Auction Closed

Bertolt Brecht, 1937–1937

Josef Breitenbach

Bertolt Brecht, 1937–1937

Sale Date: April 5, 2001

Auction Closed

Aktportrait, Paris

Josef Breitenbach

Aktportrait, Paris

Sale Date: January 17, 2001

Auction Closed

English (US)

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