Anna Lehmann-Brauns Stages: A Photographic Odyssey
Ah, the 21st century—where the word “painterly” has become a backhanded compliment, tossed around like confetti at a wedding where the bride’s running late. When people talk about photographs being painterly, it’s often with a hint of sarcasm, as if to say, “Nice try, snapper, but let’s face it: you’re not getting that Monet vibe.” But enter Anna Lehmann-Brauns, this Berlin maestro, whose camera seemingly channels the spirits of the art world without a smidge of irony. It’s almost like she’s saying, “Oh, you thought photography couldn’t touch painting’s hem? Hold my beer!”
With the spotlight on her photographs, we journey through a mosaic of scenes: the Bosphorus viewed from a ferry in Istanbul, the late-night vibes of Berlin bars, the vibrant energy of San Francisco’s gay clubs, and even those dusty little shops in Charlottenburg that seem to be punking us with their apparent ‘junk’. Each click of her shutter doesn’t just capture an image—it emanates a haunted charm that pulls us in and, just for a moment, has us questioning whether we’ve stumbled into a forgotten masterpiece. Sure, some of her works invite a touch of nostalgia, but others pop with colors so cool, you’d think they were auditioning for a role in a 90s music video!
But wait, the pièce de résistance here is the title of her book: Stages. Now, this isn’t just a nod to the stages of life or the literal point of performance art. No, it’s an intricate dance between literal and figurative, like a Shakespearean play written in emojis. It’s a collection that captures those slices of everyday life while also encapsulating different phases of the human experience. In this fourth individual publication, she’s curated a powerful creative phase, outlined through various series that haven’t graced the pages of a book until now. Literally. It’s like unearthing buried treasure—except the treasure has a beautiful cover and is a smidge more acclaimed than a chest of gold coins.
Price and Availability
Cover of “Stages” by Anna Lehmann-Brauns
Dimensions: 28 x 32.5 cm
120 pages, approximately 75 color illustrations.
Contributions by Barbara Esch Marowski and Matthias Harder.
Language options: German and English.
Design by Heimann + Schwantes, Berlin.
Embossed hardcover edition.
ISBN: 978-3-96070-112-5
Price: €40
Release Date: October 2024
For the curious and the aesthetically-inclined, you can snag this beauty at Hartmann Books. Trust me, you won’t regret it. Unless you forget to take it out and showcase it—then it’s just a very fancy doorstop.
So, if you’re an aficionado of fine art, or just someone who appreciates a good click—Anna Lehmann-Brauns’s ‘Stages’ might just be the ticket to elevate your coffee table. After all, who wouldn’t want to add a touch of enigmatic elegance to their living room and spark envy in friends who can’t quite put their finger on why they feel so… inadequate?
Anna Lehmann-Brauns Stages
In contemporary discussions, when individuals refer to photographs as painterly, it often carries a tone of irony or slight disparagement; this is largely due to photography’s historical ambition to supplant painting as the dominant form of artistic expression in the late 19th century.
However, the captivating photographs crafted by Berlin-based artist Anna Lehmann-Brauns successfully translate the essence of the picturesque into a modern photographic dialect, devoid of any hint of irony. Whether she is capturing the serene views of the Bosphorus from a ferry in Istanbul, immersing herself in the vibrant interiors of Berlin’s bars, chronicling the lively atmosphere of gay clubs in San Francisco, or exploring the eclectic charm of dusty shop windows in Charlottenburg’s thrift stores, her works consistently evoke an enigmatic, almost magical ambience. This allure not only captivates the viewer but also conjures associations with acclaimed masterpieces of the past. While many of her images evoke a sense of wistfulness and melancholy, others, showcasing brilliantly hued interiors, exude an effortlessly chic elegance that is undeniably striking.
The book titled Stages holds significant meaning, referencing both the literal stages and the metaphorical phases of daily life that she imagines and depicts. Furthermore, these stages represent various phases of her artistic journey; in her fourth solo publication, Lehmann-Brauns curates a diverse collection of previously unpublished series from recent years, meticulously documenting a dynamic and powerful creative period in her artistic evolution.
Price and availability
Cover of “Stages” by Anna Lehmann-Brauns
28 x 32,5 cm
120 pages, approx. 75 color illustrations.
With texts by
Barbara Esch Marowski and Matthias Harder
German English
Design: Heimann + Schwantes, Berlin
Embossed hardcover
ISBN 978-3-96070-112-5
€ 40,–
October 2024
**Interview with Anna Lehmann-Brauns: Exploring the Artistry of “Stages”**
**Interviewer**: Welcome, Anna! It’s a pleasure to have you here. Your upcoming book, *Stages*, is already creating a buzz. Can you tell us what inspired you to curate such a diverse collection of photographs?
**Anna Lehmann-Brauns**: Thank you for having me! The inspiration for *Stages* arose from my fascination with the everyday moments that often go unnoticed. I wanted to capture a cross-section of human experience, from the bustling energy of nightclubs to the quiet charm of a dusty shop. Each photograph represents a frame of life that resonates with the viewer on some level.
**Interviewer**: Your work has often evoked a sense of nostalgia while also bursting with vibrant colors. How do you achieve that balance in your compositions?
**Anna Lehmann-Brauns**: It all comes down to the emotion I want to convey. In some pieces, I intentionally embrace a muted palette to evoke nostalgia, while in others, I choose striking colors to evoke excitement and energy. It’s about creating a dialogue between the subjects, the setting, and the viewer’s own experiences.
**Interviewer**: The title, *Stages*, seems to carry a profound meaning. Can you elaborate on how this concept plays into the photographs featured in the book?
**Anna Lehmann-Brauns**: Absolutely! *Stages* reflects both the literal and metaphorical stages of life. It’s a commentary on how we navigate through spaces and moments that shape our existence. Each series in the collection represents different facets of life—some familiar, some abstract—and invites viewers to consider their own narratives and stages they’ve experienced.
**Interviewer**: You describe your works as having a haunted charm. What do you mean by that, and how does it influence your photographic style?
**Anna Lehmann-Brauns**: The term “haunted charm” captures the essence of capturing fleeting moments that linger in memory. It’s like each photograph tells a story of something lost or overlooked. This notion influences my photographic style by encouraging me to seek depth in simplicity, to find beauty in the mundane, and to invite viewers to linger a moment longer with the image.
**Interviewer**: With mixed reviews surrounding the idea of photographs being described as “painterly,” how do you view the intersection of photography and painting in your work?
**Anna Lehmann-Brauns**: I see photography and painting as inherently connected, each medium offering unique ways to express artistic vision. When people use “painterly” in an ironic sense, I hope my work challenges that notion. I strive to show that photography can indeed capture depth, texture, and emotion much like painting can, but through a lens.
**Interviewer**: The book is set to be released in October 2024. What do you hope readers take away from *Stages*?
**Anna Lehmann-Brauns**: I hope that readers will come away with a renewed appreciation for the beauty found in everyday experiences. I want them to feel inspired to notice the layers in their own lives—the small moments that are equally significant as grand events. Ultimately, I want *Stages* to spark conversation and reflection.
**Interviewer**: Thank you, Anna! We can’t wait for the release of *Stages*. Your perspective on blending the realms of photography and painting is truly captivating.
**Anna Lehmann-Brauns**: Thank you! I’m excited for everyone to experience the book and the stories within it.
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