Background
Funke was born in Skuteč to a wealthy family of a Bohemian-German lawyer father and a Czechoslovakian mother.
Funke was born in Skuteč to a wealthy family of a Bohemian-German lawyer father and a Czechoslovakian mother.
He studied medicine, law, and philosophy at the Charles University in Prague and the University of Bratislava but did not graduate and instead turned to photography.
Funke was a leading figure in Czechoslovakian photography during the 1920s and 30s. Early career
By the 1920s, Funke had become an amateur photographer and began to experiment with constructivism, surrealism, poeticism, and expressionism. He created unconventional works as a form of “pure” photography instead of the traditional reminiscing of other mediums such as painting or sculpture.
Later career
During his photography profession, Funke published editorials and critiques about photography.
By 1922, Funke had become a skilled freelance photographer and two years later he, Josef Sudek and Adolf Schneeberger created the Czechoslovakian Photographic Society. From 1931-1935, Funke headed the photography department at the School of Arts and Crafts in Bratislava.
Soon after, Funke taught at the School of Graphic Art in Prague until 1944. Alongside Ladislav Sutha, the director of the previous school, Funke published Fotografie vidí povrch in 1935.
While travelling, Funke became interested in politically engaged photography.
Bad living was created during the time period of 1930-1931 and was a photographic series that dealt with the issues of poverty. Funke later became an editor of the journal Fotografický obzor (Photographic Horizons) for several years. He published a number of works including Od fotogrameuk emoci which is understood to be his manifesto.
As travelling was limited during World War 2 in 1939, Funke photographed close to home in Louny, Prague and sometimes Kolín.
On March 22, 1945 in Kolin, Funke required an immediate operation for intestine damage but the procedure could not be executed as it was during an air raid alarm and he died.