Christopher Webster van Tonder’s ongoing research into the life and work of the German photographer Erich Retzlaff (1899-1993) has attracted an important donation to the School of Art Gallery and Museum. In March 2013 a collection of 38 vintage Erich Retzlaff prints was generously given by the photographer’s daughter, Bettina Retzlaff-Cumming. This donation will hereafter be known as the Bettina Retzlaff-Cumming Bequest.
This generous gift will have a significant impact on the potential for research and teaching in relation to Retzlaff’s oeuvre and the resonance and relevance of Erich Retzlaff’s photographs.
Below is a selection of the photographs which are mostly post-war and often relating to commercial projects. One image is actually by one of Bettina’s sisters – a portrait of their elderly father.
Aberystwyth University School of Art Museum & Galleries 