Born in Zürich, Switzerland, on April 26, 1916, Werner Bischof began his artistic studies by attending drawing courses at the Normal School of Schiers. One year later, he enrolled in the School of Art of Zurich, where he studied under Hans Finsler. Mr. Finsler concentrated on “New Objectivity,” an approach to photography in which the close-up served as the objective presentation of fact - drawing analogies between manufactured objects and natural form. While Bischof’s early body of work exudes crisp details, strong design elements, and great attention to geometric forms, it is there where his humanistic approach to photography is first revealed.
An early member of Magnum Photos, Bischof traveled the world producing many of the medium’s most expressive images. In September-November 1953, Werner Bischof left Europe for the U.S., where he worked in different cities for a publication of Standard Oil. In March-May 1954, Bischof traveled to Mexico City, Panama, Chile, and Peru. Bischof’s numerous landmark photo essays in such publications as Life and the Swiss periodical DU have established him as an accomplished journalist. Still, his highly refined aesthetic and his photographs are the ultimate legacy of his artistic genius. On May 16, 1954, Werner Bischof died shortly after his 38th birthday in a car accident in Peña de Aguila in the Andes. Soon after Werner Bischof’s death, their son Daniel was born in Zürich, and the book “Japan” was published in Zürich and Paris.
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Werner BischofBundles of light-rays, 1936Gelatin silver exhibition print mounted to masonite20 x 15 in (50.8 x 38.1 cm)
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Werner BischofFashion Photo, Zurich, Switzerland, 1941Gelatin silver print, printed c. 1950s8 1/2 x 7 in (21.6 x 17.8 cm)
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Werner BischofSnail Shell, 1941Gelatin silver exhibition print mounted to masonite20 x 16 in (50.8 x 40.64 cm)
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Werner BischofSnail Shell, 1941Gelatin silver print, printed c. 195511 1/2 x 9 in (29.21 x 22.86 cm)
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Werner BischofSnail Shells, Zurich, Switzerland, 1941Gelatin silver exhibition print mounted to masonite19 3/4 x 15 in (50.17 x 38.1 cm)
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Werner BischofHorse-tail, 1942Gelatin silver print, printed c. 1950s9 1/2 x 7 1/4 in (24.13 x 18.42 cm)
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Werner BischofInterference Pattern on the Surface of a Pool of Mercury from Two Vibratory Sources, Switzerland, 1944Gelatin silver print, printed c. 19557 1/8 x 9 3/4 in (18.1 x 24.77 cm)
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Werner BischofStress Patterns of a Piece of Molded Celluloid Visible Under Polarized Light, 1944Gelatin silver print, printed c. 195511 3/4 x 8 1/4 in (29.85 x 20.96 cm)
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Werner BischofUntitled (Musician), 1945Gelatin silver print, printed c. 194511 3/8 x 8 7/8 in (28.89 x 22.54 cm)
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Werner BischofFarmer's Inn in the Puszta, Hungary, 1947Gelatin silver print, printed c. 19557 3/4 x 11 5/8 in (19.69 x 29.53 cm)
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Werner BischofFlood of Tisza River, Hungary, 1947Gelatin silver exhibition print mounted to masonite20 x 20 in (50.8 x 50.8 cm)
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Werner BischofHungary, 1947Gelatin silver exhibition print mounted to masonite33 x 24 in (83.8 x 61 cm)
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Werner BischofEmperor Hirohito and his wife, Hiroshima, Japan, 1951Gelatin silver exhibition print flush-mounted to masonite20 x 22 in (50.8 x 55.88 cm)
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Werner BischofIn a tea house, the master of the Tea Ceremony arranging the Holy Niche, Kyoto, Japan, 1951Gelatin silver exhibition print mounted to masonite22 x 15 5/8 in (55.88 x 39.69 cm)
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Werner BischofOn the Ginza, Tokyo, Japan, 1951Gelatin silver print mounted to board, printed c. 195513 1/2 x 9 1/4 in (34.3 x 23.5 cm)
Mount: 13 1/2 x 11 in -
Werner BischofPilgrim before the Altar of Kyomizu Temple, Japan, 1951Gelatin silver exhibition print mounted to masonite29 7/8 x 24 in (75.88 x 60.96 cm)
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Werner BischofPriest, Ryoanji temple, Kyoto, Japan, 1951Gelatin silver exhibition print mounted to masonite21 7/8 x 27 7/8 in (55.56 x 70.8 cm)
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Werner BischofShinto priests in Meiji Shrine, Tokyo, Japan, 1951Gelatin silver exhibition print mounted to masonite20 x 15 in (50.8 x 38.1 cm)
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Werner BischofStriptease backstage, Tokyo, Japan, 1951Gelatin silver exhibition print mounted to masonite15 x 22 in (38.1 x 55.88 cm)
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Werner BischofLotus Pool in Winter, Japan, 1952Gelatin silver exhibition print mounted to masonite22 x 16 in (55.88 x 40.64 cm)
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Werner BischofReturning from Market, Ba-rau, Indochina, 1952Gelatin silver exhibition print mounted to masonite22 x 20 in (55.88 x 50.8 cm)
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Werner BischofUntitled (Machu Picchu), 1954Gelatin silver exhibition print mounted to masonite, printed c. 195416 x 14 in (40.64 x 35.56 cm)
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Werner BischofUntitled, n.d.Gelatin silver print, printed c. 1950-195511 1/2 x 9 1/4 in (29.21 x 23.5 cm)
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The Photography Show
Presented by AIPAD 5 - 8 Apr 2018Featured Artists: Werner Bischof, Manuel Alvarez Bravo, Constantin Brâncuși, Henri Cartier-Bresson, Mark Cohen, Elliot Erwitt, Walker Evans, Mishka Henner, Todd Hido, André Kertész, Dorthea Lange,...Read more -
Paris Photo
12 - 15 Nov 2015Artists: Ilse Bing, Werner Bischof, Erwin Blumenfeld, Constantin Brancusi, Bill Brandt, Brassai, Anne Brigman, Robert Doisneau, Walker Evans, Robert Frank, Lee Friedlander, Robert Heinecken, Mishka...Read more