Alfred Krupp
“By exaggerating or minimizing his subjects’ surroundings, [Arnold Newman] crafted impressionistic gems… that suggested his sitters’ personalities,” wrote TIME magazine. He did, and the above photo, not notable in itself, is a product of such a mind.
Armanents manufacturer Alfred Krupp who alledgedly used slave labour to make weapons for the Nazis, contacted the famous Newman for a portrait in 1963. Upon finding out that Newman was a Jew, Krupp refused to let him make the photograph. Newman insisted to have Krupp look at his portfolio before making a final decision and after seeing Newman’s portfolio Krupp accepted. So on July 6, 1963, the industrialist and the auteur went into a delict factory in Essen which belonged to Krupp, where Newman decided to make Krupp look as evil as possible under the eerie demonic lighting of the factory.
When Krupp first saw the portrait he was livid. Newman was more tongue-in-cheek: “As a Jew, it’s my own little moment of revenge.”
Great photo, great story.
MadMolecule
June 17, 2010 at 3:09 pm
I think you’re rather too line to Krupp. He most certainly did use slave labor & and in fact could see them walk to there daily slavery each morning from his office.
This is indeed an iconic photo, especially in light of the fact that the next generation of Germans were just beginning prosecutions of dozens of Nazis who worked in these types of camps as overseers, a fact of which the photog was almost certainly aware.
Thanks for this great and thought-provoking post.
David H
June 20, 2010 at 9:29 pm
Description states the backdrop is
”a derelict factory in Essen”
the factory viewed is certainly not derelict as with new railway locomotives being built.
But still obviously a great composure.
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March 6, 2012 at 8:09 pm
70,000 died on his floor Im not sure its evil enough
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