As a photographer, Wols (1913–1951) has yet to be discovered. The artistically ambitious and non-conformist young man went from Dresden to Paris in 1932, where he began a career as a portrait photographer. By 1939 he had created an impressive body of photographic works, but after 1943 he was not able to continue it, due to adverse conditions and his turn to drawing and painting. After his death, these photographs were almost forgotten.

Today the Dresden Kupferstich Kabinett has the most important collection of his photographic oeuvre – rare prints from original negatives and valuable original prints made by the artist’s hand. For the first time Wols’ photographs will be extensively honored in celebration of his 100th birthday. The catalogue and the exhibition shift the focus away from the “Wols myth” and place his artistic achievements firmly in the foreground.