Front / Recto
- Title Funkia
- Negative Date 1926
- Print Date 1926–33
- Medium Gelatin silver print
- Dimensions Image 9 × 6 3/4" (22.9 × 17.1 cm)
- Place Taken Gera
- Credit Line Thomas Walther Collection. Gift of Arthur M. Bullowa, by exchange
- MoMA Accession Number 1616.2001
Back / Verso
- Mount Type No mount
- Marks and Inscriptions Inscribed in pencil on sheet verso, top center: Fungia. Stamped in black ink on sheet verso, top center: aenne biermann, gera, d.w.b./nr. [inscribed in pencil on number line inside artist's stamp: 143]. Inscribed in pencil on sheet verso, center: 143. Inscribed in pencil on sheet verso, center: 1+ [erased]. Inscribed in black ink on sheet verso, center: S. Inscribed in black ink on sheet verso, bottom center: 143.
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Provenance
The artist, Gera, Germany; to Franz Roh (1890–1965), Munich, by 1930[1]; by inheritance to the estate of Franz Roh (Juliane Roh, 1909–1987), Munich, 1965 [2]; to Galerie Wilde (Ann and Jürgen Wilde), Cologne, 1968 [3]; purchased by Thomas Walther, November 1979 [4]; purchased by The Museum of Modern Art, New York, 2001.
[1] Jürgen Wilde, letter to Simon Bieling, May 12, 2005.
[2] Ibid.
[3] Ibid.; and MacGill/Walther 2000, p. 3.
[4] Galerie Wilde invoice, November 27, 1979, annotated with Thomas Walther archival no. TW 791101.
Surface
- Surface Sheen Semireflective
- Techniques Retouching (additive) Enlargement Ferrotyping
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PTM
View of the recto of the artwork made using reflectance transformation imaging (RTI) software, which exaggerates subtle surface details and renders the features of the artwork plainly visible. Department of Conservation, MoMA -
Micro-raking
Raking-light close-up image, as shot. Area of detail is 6.7 x 6.7 mm. Department of Conservation, MoMA
Raking-light close-up image, processed. Processing included removal of color, equalization of the histogram, and sharpening, all designed to enhance visual comparison. Department of Conservation, MoMA
Paper Material
- Format Metric
- Weight Double weight
- Thickness (mm) 0.28
- UV Fluorescence Recto negative Verso negative
- Fiber Analysis Softwood bleached sulfite 99% Hardwood bleached sulfite 2%
- Material Techniques Developing-out paper
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XRF
This work was determined to be a gelatin silver print via X-ray fluorescence (XRF) spectrometry.
The following elements have been positively identified in the work, through XRF readings taken from its recto and verso (or from the mount, where the verso was not accessible):
- Recto: S, Cl, Ca, Zn, Sr, Ag, Ba
- Verso: Al, Si, P, Ca, Zn, Sr, Ba
The graphs below show XRF spectra for three areas on the print: two of the recto—from areas of maximum and minimum image density (Dmax and Dmin)—and one of the verso or mount. The background spectrum represents the contribution of the XRF instrument itself. The first graph shows elements identified through the presence of their characteristic peaks in the lower energy range (0 to 8 keV). The second graph shows elements identified through the presence of their characteristic peaks in the higher energy range (8 to 40 keV).
Areas examined: Recto (Dmax: black; Dmin: green), Verso or Mount (blue), Background (red)
Elements identified: Al, Si, P, S, Cl, Ca, Ag, Ba
Areas examined: Recto (Dmax: black; Dmin: green), Verso or Mount (blue), Background (red)
Elements identified: Zn, Sr, Ag
In Context
Related Images
Spread from Aenne Biermann and Franz Roh. Aenne Biermann: 60 Fotos. Berlin: Klinkhardt & Biermann, 1930. The Museum of Modern Art Library, New York. Left: Aenne Biermann. Rimy Pine Tree (Kiefer im Rauhreif). Right: Aenne Biermann. Funkia
Historical Publications
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Roh, Franz. Aenne Biermann: 60 Fotos, pl. 40 (as Funkia). Berlin: Klinkhardt & Biermann, 1930.
Historical Exhibitions
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Städtische Ausstellungshallen, Stuttgart. Internationale Ausstellung des Deutschen Werkbunds Film und Foto (Fifo) (no. 123, as Funkie). Organized by Deutscher Werkbund. May 18-July 7, 1929. (traveling exhibition)
Related People
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Artist
Related Links
- Exhibitions Film und Foto, 1929
