Background
Otto Steinert was born on July 12, 1915, in Saarbrücken, Saarland, Germany.
Otto Steinert
Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany
Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany
1949
1949
1949
1950
1950
1950
1952
1958
Otto Steinert was born on July 12, 1915, in Saarbrücken, Saarland, Germany.
Otto Steinert studied medicine at various universities (1934-1939), taking his final examinations and degree in Berlin, 1939, at the surgical clinic of Charité.
Otto Steinert was a medical officer during the war, then practiced privately until 1948. During his studies and early career, he pursued an interest in modern art and photography, initially making photographs to support his medical career. Eventually, Otto Steinert was engaged as a photography teacher at the Staatlichen Schule für Kunst und Handwerk in Saarbrücken. In 1952 he became headmaster of the school, and in 1954 Otto Steinert was made a full professor. In 1959 he accepted a professorship at the Folkwangschule für Gestaltung (now Folkwang University of the Arts) in Essen-Werden, where he remained until his death.
Internationally exhibited since 1951, in that year Otto Steinert mounted his innovative exhibit "Subjektive Fotografie," which launched his career and established him as a pacemaker in the field of art photography. Since that time and until his death he won numerous awards.
Steinert's work is known for its formalistic severity in a decided, overidentified scale of black-and-white tones. A master of photographic technique in all its variations.
Société Française
1949
Otto Steinert served on the board of directors of DGPh (German Society for Photography, Deutsche Gesellschaft für Photographie, DGPh)) from 1954 till his death.
German Society for Photography
1951
Otto Steinert served as its chairman in 1963-1974 and as a jury chairman in 1958-1965.
GDL
1957
Otto Steinert was the organizer of the well-known group "fotoform" (1949) and its leader till 1955.
fotoform
1949
Quotes from others about the person
Wrote Paul Vogt: "Otto Steinert used the heritage of Renger-Patzsch and Moholy-Nagy to create a new style "emancipated from formalism and without any false attitude; in this way, he emphasized the subjective pretension of the photograph.""
