Werner Bischof

Helvetica reveals Bischof's Swiss work, notably focusing on the extraordinary contact sheets he created between 1933 and 1945, unpublished until now. The selection of contact sheets and photographs was made from the photographer's archives. It allows us to understand his influences, his experimentation with light, his affinity for the abstraction and form of the thirties. Transitioning from fashion to landscapes, from nudes to sporting achievements, the book enables us to trace Bischof's original work, his influences, and his sense of aesthetics, before he became an international reference for his reportage work in post-war Europe, Asia, and the Americas. This book, under the direction of Daniel Girardin, accompanies the eponymous exhibition presented at Photo Elysée from January 27th to May 1st, 2016.