Front / Recto
- Title Metamorphosis 573 (Metamorphose 573)
- Negative Date 1936
- Print Date 1936
- Medium Gelatin silver print
- Dimensions Image 11 7/16 × 9 1/8" (29 × 23.2 cm)
- Place Taken Tel Aviv
- Credit Line Thomas Walther Collection. The Family of Man Fund
- MoMA Accession Number 1760.2001
- Copyright © Estate Helmar Lerski, Museum Folkwang, Essen
Back / Verso
- Mount Type No mount - evidence previous mount
- Marks and Inscriptions Inscribed in pencil on sheet verso, center: 573 [3 is traced over in blue ink]. Inscribed in pencil on sheet verso, bottom center: K. 9203076. Inscribed in pencil on sheet verso, bottom: P 9506002. Inscribed in blue pencil on sheet verso, bottom right: X.
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Provenance
The artist, Tel Aviv; by inheritance to the artist's estate (Walter Marti and Reni Mertens), Zurich [1]; to Galerie Rudolf Kicken, Cologne [2]; purchased by Thomas Walther, July 10, 1996 [3]; purchased by The Museum of Modern Art, New York, 2001.
[1] Rudolf Kicken, conversation with Simon Bieling, Kicken Berlin, February 17, 2004.
[2] Ibid.
[3] MacGill/Walther 2000(2), p. 36; and Galerie Rudolf Kicken invoice no. 716, July 10, 1996, inventory no. P9203076.
Surface
- Surface Sheen Semireflective
- Techniques Retouching (additive)
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PTM
Detail 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 Single weight
- Thickness (mm) 0.17
- UV Fluorescence Recto negative Verso negative
- Fiber Analysis Softwood bleached sulfite 62% Hardwood bleached sulfite Softwood bleached sulfite 8% Softwood bleached kraft/soda 1% Hardwood bleached kraft/soda 1% Rag 21% Bast 7%
- 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: P, S, Ca, Zn, Sr, Ag, Ba
- Verso: Al, 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, P, S, 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
Helmar Lerski. 573 from the series Metamorphosis through Light, Tel Aviv. 1935–36. Gelatin silver print, 11 1/2× 9 1/8" (29.2 × 23.1 cm). Museum of Fine Arts, Houston. Gift of Manfred Heiting. The Manfred Heiting Collection. © Estate Helmar Lerski, Museum Folkwang, Essen
Historical Exhibitions
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Gallery Divan, Jerusalem. Verwandlungen durch Licht. Organized by Elisier Lubrani. Opened April 4, 1936.
Kunstgalerie Neumann & Salzer, Vienna. Der Mensch. Organized by Professor Dr. Maz Eisler. Opened September 1936.
Academy Cinema, London. Metamorphosis through Light: The Photographs of Helmar Lerski. Slide show. Summer 1938.
Bezalel Museum of Art, Jerusalem. 30 Years of Photographic Work. 1941.
Related People
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Artist
