In 1949, Germany was divided into two countries: the German Democratic Republic (GDR) and the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG). Women who built careers as photographers in the GDR and produced outstanding bodies of work offer perspectives that have often been overlooked in efforts to reassess the history of German photography. From the late 1970s onward—when photography was recognized as an autonomous art form in both Germanys—women photographers increasingly worked across a range of contexts, including state commissions, magazines, and independent projects, and circulated their work widely.

This exhibition brings together documentary, street, fashion, portrait, and conceptual photography, reflecting a dual focus on depicting the GDR in all its complexity and exploring the possibilities of the medium. Featuring the work of 15 women photographers—drawn largely from the Sven Herrmann Collection, renowned for its vintage prints, and presented by Stiftung Reinbeckhallen—it highlights artists who were significant in their time and remain influential today. Through their work, viewers encounter nuanced perspectives and assured techniques brought to bear on society and everyday life in a country that no longer exists, and are invited to consider their role in diversifying the GDR’s visual culture.