Hilde Lotz-Bauer
Evidence of a special gaze
Deposition by Michaelangelo (detail)
An appreciation by Dr Ute Dercks, deputy director of the Photo Library at the Kunsthistorischen Institut in Florenz (KHI)
Hilde Lotz-Bauer’s c. 750 photographs are amongst the most important holdings of the KHI Photo Library collection. Her architectural photographs document the pre-war condition of bridges, palaces and churches in Florence. They also bear witness to the special way in which she brought her gaze to bear on her subject, as both photographer and art historian, while also considering compositional aesthetics.
Hilde Lotz-Bauer captured the individual characteristics of statues with her camera, portraying them from different perspectives as well as in detail. Her use of lighting demonstrates sensitivity to materials such as bronze, marble and wax, drawing attention to traces of the sculptor’s process of making. In addition, she is the only female photographer with a major portfolio in the Photo Library.