21st Nov, 2025 17:00

OstLicht Photo Auction Autumn 2025

 
  Lot 85
 

FRANZ HUBMANN (1914–2007)
Oskar Werner, Vienna 1952

Estimate
€1,200 - €1,600
 

Buyer's premium: 20%

Droit de suite may apply to this lot

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Lot details

Start price: € 800

Estimate: € 1,200–1,600

English:

Vintage silver print on single-weight glossy Agfa paper, in very good condition. Photographer's copyright stamp in ink and handwritten notations in pencil on the reverse.

Shortly after this shot, Oskar Werner (1922–1984) had his breakthrough in German-language theatre as Hamlet. However, he only achieved international fame in the 1960s with film roles directed by François Truffaut, for example in "Jules and Jim" or "Fahrenheit 451". The portraitist can also be described as a late starter, as Hubmann only began his second career as a photojournalist around 1950. Inspired by his work for the culture magazine "magnum", he quickly became an authority in modern Austrian photojournalism. The liveliness of this portrait reflects his approach, for which Karl Pawek coined the term "life photography". It was taken in the studio of the artist Kurt Moldowan, where Werner was rehearsing "Torquato Tasso" with Gertrud Kückelmann.

Deutsch:

Vintage-Silbergelatineabzug auf dünnem, glänzendem Agfa-Papier, in sehr gutem Zustand. Rückseitig Fotografen-Copyrightstempel und handschriftlich datiert "um 1952" mit Bleistift.

Kurz nach dieser Aufnahme hatte Oskar Werner (1922–1984) seinen Durchbruch am deutschsprachigen Theater als Hamlet. Internationale Berühmtheit erlangte er aber erst in den 1960er-Jahren mit Filmrollen unter der Regie von François Truffaut, etwa in "Jules and Jim" oder "Fahrenheit 451". Auch den Porträtisten kann man als Spätstarter bezeichnen, denn Hubmann begann seine zweite Karriere als Fotojournalist erst um 1950. Angestoßen durch seine Mitarbeit am Kulturmagazin "magnum" wurde er rasch zu einer Autorität des modernen österreichischen Bildjournalismus. In der Lebendigkeit dieses Porträts spiegelt sich seine Herangehensweise, für die Karl Pawek den Begriff der "life-Fotografie" prägte. Es entstand im Atelier des Künstlers Kurt Moldowan, wo Werner mit Gertrud Kückelmann "Torquato Tasso" einstudierte.

Image Size: 23.8 x 18.1 cm

 

Auction: OstLicht Photo Auction Autumn 2025, 21st Nov, 2025

PREVIEW

12–20 November, 12–6 pm
or by appointment

GUIDED TOUR | PHOTO PREVIEW

with Marie Röbl and Taiyoung Ha
Friday, 14 and Tuesday, 18 November both at 6 pm
Participation is free of charge - please register in advance via info@ostlicht.org

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Relevant lots are marked with ‟Droit de suite may apply to this lot”.