Leni Riefenstahl

(German, 1902–2003)

Leni Riefenstahl was a German actress and director known for her Nazi propaganda films Triumph of the Will (1935) and Olympia (1938). The controversial nature of her relationship with Adolf Hitler cast a long shadow over the career. Despite this, Riefenstahl’s work remains a premier example of pioneering cinematography techniques, including tracking shots and slow motion. “Where is my guilt? I can regret. I can regret that I made the party film, Triumph of the Will, in 1934. But I cannot regret that I lived in that time,” she once explained. “No anti-Semitic word has ever crossed my lips. I was never anti-Semitic. I did not join the party.” Born Helene Bertha Amalie Riefenstahl on August 22, 1902 in Berlin, Germany, she pursued dancing as child, going on to perform interpretive dance around Germany as a young woman. A foot injury led Riefenstahl to end her dancing career and she began acting in mid-1920s. She famously starred in the successful G.W. Pabst film The White Hell of Piz Palü (1929). Transitioning from acting to directing, she was introduced to the Führer during the early 1930s. Smitten with the young filmmaker, Hitler offered her the rare opportunity to direct films for the Nazi party. After World War II, Reifenstahl was the subject of four denazification proceedings, which found her to be an active Nazi sympathizer, though innocent of any war crimes. During the latter half of her career, the artist spent much of her time in Africa, documenting the indigenous Nuba tribe in Sudan in a series of striking color photographs. She died at the age of 101 on September 8, 2002 in Pöckling, Germany.

Leni Riefenstahl Artworks

Leni Riefenstahl (532 results)

Their Shadows, 1936

Leni Riefenstahl

Their Shadows, 1936

Price on Request

Lebendige Antike, 1936

Leni Riefenstahl

Lebendige Antike, 1936

Price on Request

Der Sieger, 1936

Leni Riefenstahl

Der Sieger, 1936

Price on Request

Der Einsprung, 1936

Leni Riefenstahl

Der Einsprung, 1936

Price on Request

The Discus Thrower, 1936

Leni Riefenstahl

The Discus Thrower, 1936

500–1,000 USD

Gold Medal Winner in the Men’s High Diving, 1936

Leni Riefenstahl

Gold Medal Winner in the Men’s High Diving, 1936

500–1,000 USD

Dive from 10 Meters Tower, 1936

Leni Riefenstahl

Dive from 10 Meters Tower, 1936

500–1,000 USD

In Deep Mourning, 1962–1977

Leni Riefenstahl

In Deep Mourning, 1962–1977

10,000–20,000 USD

Mask IV, 1975–1976

Leni Riefenstahl

Mask IV, 1975–1976

10,000–20,000 USD

Dance of Love II, 1975–1976

Leni Riefenstahl

Dance of Love II, 1975–1976

10,000–20,000 USD

Mask I

Leni Riefenstahl

Price on Request

Jamilia

Leni Riefenstahl

Price on Request

Jesse Owens

Leni Riefenstahl

Price on Request

Nageuse japonaise dans Les Dieux du..., 1936–1938

Leni Riefenstahl

Nageuse japonaise dans Les Dieux du..., 1936–1938

Sale Date: March 19, 2024

Auction Closed

Study of Flags, 1936 Olympics, Berlin, 1936

Attributed to Leni Riefenstahl

Study of Flags, 1936 Olympics, Berlin, 1936

Sale Date: February 8, 2024

Auction Closed

Ausklang, 1936

Leni Riefenstahl

Ausklang, 1936

Sale Date: January 28, 2024

Auction Closed

AFRICA, 2002

Leni Riefenstahl

Sale Date: December 18, 2023

Auction Closed

Leni Riefenstahl

"Liebestanz" (Two Kau Nuba girls dancing the , 1975

Sale Date: December 6, 2023

Auction Closed

Nuba Portfolio, 1970–1979

Leni Riefenstahl

Nuba Portfolio, 1970–1979

Sale Date: December 8, 2023

Auction Closed

Scene ffrom

Leni Riefenstahl

Scene ffrom "Triumphg of the Will" Berlin..., 1936

Sale Date: November 20, 2023

Auction Closed

Im Stadion, 1936

Leni Riefenstahl

Im Stadion, 1936

Sale Date: December 1, 2023

Auction Closed

Untitled (Water Polo), 1936

Leni Riefenstahl

Untitled (Water Polo), 1936

Sale Date: December 1, 2023

Auction Closed

Untitled (Marjorie Gestring), 1936

Leni Riefenstahl

Untitled (Marjorie Gestring), 1936

Sale Date: December 1, 2023

Auction Closed

Portfolio Nuba. Volume 1.

Leni Riefenstahl

Portfolio Nuba. Volume 1.

Sale Date: November 9, 2023

Auction Closed

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