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Lotte Jacobi

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description Lotte Jacobi Overview

Lotte Jacobi (1896–1990) was a German-American photographer who managed her family's portrait studio in Berlin before emigrating to the United States in 1935. She is known for her intimate portrait photographs of prominent cultural and scientific figures, including Albert Einstein. She also produced abstract cameraless photographs she called 'photogenics.' Settling in New Hampshire in the 1950s, she continued photographing and exhibiting her work into the 1980s.

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Who was Lotte Jacobi?

Lotte Jacobi was a German-American photographer known for her portrait work, running a prominent photography studio in Berlin until she fled Nazi Germany in 1935. She settled in the United States and continued her career, becoming known for portraits of notable figures including Albert Einstein, Marc Chagall, and Eleanor Roosevelt.

When did Lotte Jacobi leave Germany?

Lotte Jacobi left Berlin in 1935 following the rise of the Nazi regime, which made it increasingly dangerous for Jewish families like hers to operate businesses in Germany. She emigrated to the United States, where she opened a new studio in New York City and rebuilt her photography career.

What was Lotte Jacobi's photography style?

Jacobi was known for her naturalistic, unposed portrait style, often using available light rather than elaborate studio setups. She also created experimental cameraless photographs called "photogenics," made by placing objects directly on photographic paper and exposing them to light.

Where can I see Lotte Jacobi's photographs?

Jacobi's photographs are held in several major collections, including the Museum of Modern Art in New York and the University of New Hampshire, where she lived and worked later in life. Her archive contains thousands of negatives and prints spanning her career from Berlin to New Hampshire.