About the Artist

Explore life events
  • John Gutmann. Sliding Window Self-Portrait. 1934. Gelatin silver print, 9 7/16 x 7 11/16" (23.9 x 19.5 cm). Collection Center for Creative Photography. © 1998 Center for Creative Photography, Arizona Board of Regents

Artist Chronology

May 28, 1905
Born
At location: John Gutmann
Wroclaw
1905–27
Lives in Breslau
At location: John Gutmann
Wroclaw
1923–27
Studies with painter Otto Müller at the Staatliche Akademie für Kunst und Kunstgewerbe zu Breslau
At location: John Gutmann
Wroclaw
1927
Junge Talente at Museum der bildenden Künste, Breslau
Wroclaw
1927–33
Lives in Berlin
At location: John Gutmann
Berlin
1927–30
Studies at Preussisches Schulkollegium for Hohere Erziehung, Humboldt Universität zu Berlin, and Berliner Akademie der Bildenden Künste
At location: John Gutmann
Berlin
1931
Solo exhibition of paintings and drawings at Galerie Gurlitt
Participant: John Gutmann
Berlin
1933
In preparation for emigration to California, he buys a Rolleiflex camera and teaches himself photography
At location: John Gutmann
Berlin
1933–98
Lives in San Francisco
At location: John Gutmann
San Francisco
1933
Signs a photojournalism contract with Presse-Foto Berlin to send photographs back to Germany for publication
At location: John Gutmann
Berlin
1934
Joins the California Camera Club to use their darkroom
At location: John Gutmann
San Francisco
1935
Solo exhibition of drawings and watercolors at Paul Elder Gallery
Participant: John Gutmann
San Francisco
1936
Travels cross country from San Francisco to New York and back
At location: John Gutmann
Baltimore Detroit Reno New York Cleveland Philadelphia San Antonio Salt Lake City Tucson Los Angeles San Diego Chicago New Orleans
1936
Ceases affiliation with Press-Foto and begins work with Pix, Inc.
Contributor: John Gutmann
New York
1936–38
Teaches part-time at San Francisco State College
At location: John Gutmann
San Francisco
1937
Solo exhibition of drawings and paintings at the San Francisco Museum of Art
Participant: John Gutmann
San Francisco
1937
Solo exhibition of drawings at Delphic Studios
Participant: John Gutmann
New York
1938
Appointed assistant professor of art and establishes studio courses and a course on the history of modern art
At location: John Gutmann
San Francisco
1938
Colorful America solo exhibition at M. H. de Young Memorial Museum. Exhibition circulates nationally
Participant: John Gutmann
San Francisco
1939
John Gutmann meets and photographs László Moholy-Nagy
San Francisco
February 18–October 29, 1939 and May 25–September 29, 1940
Golden Gate International Exposition
Visitor: Anne W. Brigman
Organizer: Johan Hagemeyer
San Francisco
1940
Meets and photographs Fernand Léger
At location: John Gutmann
San Francisco
1941
Wondrous World solo exhibition of photographs at M. H. de Young Memorial Museum
Participant: John Gutmann
San Francisco
October 29, 1941–February 1, 1942
Images of Freedom at The Museum of Modern Art
New York
1943–45
Serves with the Psychological Warfare Team of the U.S. Office of War Information
At location: John Gutmann
Rangoon
1946
Establishes a creative photography program at San Francisco State College
At location: John Gutmann
San Francisco
June 12, 1998
Dies
At location: John Gutmann
San Francisco

Walther Photographs

View this artist's works in MoMA's Online Collection

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