THE STAGE IS YOURS – THREE EDITIONS ON FILM AND THEATRE

Portraits of actors and actresses have probably accompanied film and theatre since the invention of photography and have been coveted collector's items ever since. We would like to present three editions that follow this tradition in an artistic way. The editions take up the expressiveness and aura of film and theatre and combine them with the medium of art printing.

The range of limited art editions is an integral part of our publishing history and our programme: since Gerd Hatje founded the publishing house in 1945 - and the first editions he created with icons of art history such as Giacometti and Picasso - we have continuously offered exclusive and very high-quality works of art in small and very small editions - and collectors and beginners the opportunity to acquire a piece of art at an affordable price.

Irene Andessner – I. M. Dietrich

Irene Andessner: I.M. Dietrich, C-print, Sheet size 29,00 x 20,00 cm, Signed and numbered, Edition of 99

In her works, Austrian artist Irene Andessner devotes herself to iconic female figures and takes on their personality and appearance down to the last detail. For her project ‘I. M. Dietrich’, she transformed herself into Marlene Dietrich over a period of months, giving the legend of the screen diva a new, artistic form. In order to fully identify herself as ‘I. M. Dietrich’ (‘I am Dietrich’), Andessner even entered into a symbolic marriage with a Mr Dietrich. This courageous action attracted a great deal of media attention and is documented in this edition. An opportunity for collectors and Marlene Dietrich fans who appreciate Andessner's masterful homage. 

Ulrike Ottinger – Aus der Spiegelserie: Straußenfeder (Tabea Blumenschein), ca. 1974/2022, Berlin

Ulrike Ottinger: Aus der Spiegelserie: Straußenfeder (Tabea Blumenschein), ca. 1974/2022, Berlin, Analogue b/w Print from the Negative on Baryt-Paper, Sheet size 25.70 x 38.10 cm, Signed and numbered, Edition of 20

In this edition, Ulrike Ottinger allows us to share a special moment in her collaboration with the icon Tabea Blumenschein. The image shows Blumenschein in one of her mirror performances, which Ottinger and Blumenschein developed in the 1970s and whose avant-garde aesthetics still fascinate today. The mirror series explores the mutability of identity and the performative nature of gender and style. Ottinger, one of Germany's most important filmmakers, set new standards for a radical artistic vision with Blumenschein. This edition commemorates a time and a friendship that had a profound impact on West Berlin's queer culture and whose repercussions can still be felt in art today. 

Steve Schapiro – Halloween in Brooklyn Heights, 1960 

Steve Schapiro: Halloween in Brooklyn Heights, 1960, handmade print in passe-partout, with signed book, sheet size: 38.00 x 28.00 cm, signed and numbered, edition of 18 + 4 AP

Steve Schapiro (*1934 in Brooklyn) has not only photographed politicians such as Robert Kennedy and Martin Luther King Jr. but also film stars such as Johnny Depp and Mia Farrow. His work captures the social tensions of the 1960s, reflecting both the dramatic events of the time and the quiet, everyday moments. In our edition, this perspective becomes visible through an image of children in Brooklyn dressing up for Halloween. The photograph of the children, who are dressing up a little apart from a street party, points to the play of identity and disguise as well as the contrast between visibility and anonymity - themes that are central to both film and theatre. Schapiro succeeds here in showing everyday life with a dramatic intensity reminiscent of a theatre production.

Header image: Ulrike Ottinger: Aus der Spiegelserie: Straußenfeder (Tabea Blumenschein), ca. 1974/2022, Berlin, Analogue b/w Print from the Negative on Baryt-Paper, Sheet size 25.70 x 38.10 cm, Signed and numbered, Edition of 20