ERFURT.- A major retrospective of the late German photojournalist and image-maker Dirk Reinartz is now on view at the Kunsthalle Erfurt. Titled "Photographing, What Is," the exhibition offers a comprehensive look at the artist's work, which chronicled the social and political changes of a divided and then reunited Germany. The show comes to Erfurt after a successful run at the LVR-Landesmuseum in Bonn, where it marked the 20th anniversary of the artist's passing.

Reinartz (1947–2004) was a master of a precise and powerful visual style. His work, which appeared in major magazines like Stern and Der Spiegel, went beyond simple documentation to capture the subtleties of everyday life. The exhibition delves into his lifelong fascination with German identity, exploring themes of history, memory, and the tension between public and private life. Reinartz’s photographs often reveal the "dreariness of social conditions" and the "banality of the everyday," yet they are always full of nuance, combining analytical sharpness with a subtle irony and fundamental empathy.

Among the featured works are pieces from his poignant series totenstill (deathly quiet), a powerful examination of the architectural remnants of Nazi concentration camps across Europe. This cycle, which questions the very possibility of representing horror, stands as one of his most important contributions. The exhibit also highlights Reinartz's extensive collaborations with the American sculptor Richard Serra, a deep friendship that resulted in decades of photographic work documenting Serra’s artistic process.

The exhibition, which runs from September 7 to November 16, 2025, is a rare chance to experience the full scope of a photographer whose work continues to shape our understanding of recent German history. It’s a compelling look at a world captured with both rigor and sensitivity.