Mario von Bucovich (1884–1947) was one of the most important Portrait photographers of the 1920s. He was formative in shaping German-speaking magazines, particularly in the realm of glamour photography. His portraits include shots of famous figures such as Marlene Dietrich, Franklin D. Roosevelt, and Leni Riefenstahl. In addition, he was a pioneer of modern urban photography. His Berlin book, published in 1928, was an outstanding success and is still today one of the most popular books on the city. Despite his early renown, he has largely been forgotten. Primarily due to his constant moves and professional new beginnings that were forced upon him by the political transformations of the twentieth century.
Bucovich was a photographer who worked around the world whose style constantly developed and who always sought out new challenges: working as a graphic designer for Agfa, an industrial photographer for BASF, or as anadvertising photographer for early Spanish and Mexican tourism. Kunsthalle Mannheim now grants him the recognition he deserves and honors him with the first comprehensive retrospective.
Curator: Dr. Manuela Husemann
Consulting: Prof. Dr. Eckhardt Köhn
