For the first time in France, the autobiography of Germaine Krull, considered a pioneer of avant-garde photography, has been published. Like many photographers of her generation, Germaine Krull (who was born in 1897 in Prussia of German parents, and died in 1985) toured the world with its turmoils and tumults. She was a friend of Man Ray, the lover of Eli Lotar, the wife of Joris Ivens, a friend of Eisenstein, a correspondent of Walter Benjamin. She was also the head of the department of propaganda of France libre in Brazzaville, a war reporter in Asia, the manager of a hotel in Bangkok for almost twenty years. Krull lived a thousand lives.
Germaine Krull was a free spirit, with no real country. She photographed relentlessly and stood out as one of the most innovative artists. Metal, a pivotal book consecrated her in 1927. Thanks to her, photography of the city and industrial world landed in the universe of the avant-garde.
This autobiography,for which she completed the typescript in Dehra Dun , India ,on October 28th, 1980 is a chronicle of the twentieth century and of her life, a picaresque saga that presents the destiny of an exceptional woman, an incomparable artist.
The historian Françoise Denoyelle, who was very close to Germaine Krull at the end of her life, made long series of interviews with her during her last visit to Paris.
BOOK
La Vie mène la danse by Germaine Krull
directed by Françoise Denoyelle
Textuel/Le jeu de Paume
Paris, 416p.
35 euros
