menu

OUT OF THE BOX: Gisèle Freund. Temporary Exhibition at the Jewish Museum Frankfurt

The exhibition “OUT OF THE BOX: Gisèle Freund” at the Jewish Museum Frankfurt highlights the life and work of Jewish photographer, sociologist, and political observer Gisèle Freund, showcasing never-before-seen items from the museum’s collection.

The exhibition offers new perspectives Gisèle Freund’s work and life (1908-2000). It draws on an extensive collection of vintage photographs and photographic prints, as well as previously unknown documents, manuscripts, and notes that the museum acquired from the estate of Hans Puttnies and the pre-posthumous collection of gallery owner Marita Ruiter.

Photo of Gisèle Freund
Anonymous, Gisèle Freund with Rolleiflex Camera, Mexico [?], 1950s, Color slide, Copyright: Collection Jüdisches Museum Frankfurt, Foto: Imec / Fonds MCC
While Gisèle Freund, a pioneer of the 35mm camera, is known primarily for her portraits of iconic writers like Walter Benjamin, James Joyce, Simone de Beauvoir, and Virginia Woolf, this exhibition highlights her aesthetic versatility and willingness to experiment. It also explores her identity as an academic author and journalist. Through her writing, Freund reflected on the social significance of photography, frequently combining her texts and images in innovative ways for her reportages. Many of her central questions remain highly relevant today, such as: “What does a photograph show?” and “How can an image be manipulated?”

As an emigrant, Freund could not make a living solely through her reportages. Instead, an international network of influential women—including Adrienne Monnier, Victoria Ocampo, and Frida Kahlo—was crucial to her survival. The exhibition highlights the profound personal significance of these relationships for the very first time.
A bilingual catalog in German and English accompanies the exhibition.

Accompanying “OUT OF THE BOX,” Frankfurt’s Leica Gallery will present the exhibition “Gisèle Freund’s Echo” starting October 30, featuring photographs by Gisèle Freund, Jessica Backhaus, and Andrea Hoyer.

Related to Jewish Museum Frankfurt / Museum Judengasse: