NEW Haeckel photographs at ullstein bild

HAECKEL AT ULLSTEIN: a familiar topic. Until now. Not only the original works from the professional creative period of the brothers Otto (1872-1945) and Georg (1873-1942) Haeckel can be found at ullstein bild. The estate with glass negative plates and other contact prints was also purchased by Ullstein Bilderdienst in later years. The “Haeckel brothers” were among the most innovative press photographers of their time. Their photographs from around 1905 to 1930 document the success and continuous collaboration of the two picture authors with Ullstein Verlag in Berlin. The pictures were published many times in high-circulation magazines and newspapers such as: Berliner Illustrirte Zeitung, Vossische Zeitung, Berliner Morgenpost, B.Z. am Mittag, Die Dame, Grüne Post.

Now another and, above all, a new version of HAECKEL BEI ULLSTEIN is being presented: in 2024, the Berlin couple Sabine and Arnold Krämer decided to donate a decades-old, unpublished collection of original Haeckel photographs to ullstein bild/Axel Springer Syndication. The original location - Wielandstrasse in Berlin - is the former residence of Otto Haeckel, who died in Berlin in 1945. The photographs come from the Haeckels' studio: not only the type of contact prints, their original captions and the photographer's stamps are consistent. The content of the images once again reveals the complete range of services: photography from the beginning of the 20th century with images from all continents, from all walks of life and of outstanding personalities of their time!

We are delighted to expand the Haeckel holdings of the Ullstein photographic collection with new original photographs and new digital image files: almost 1,000 new image motifs can now be viewed in the ullstein bild image database.

A big thank you for donating the Haeckel photographs to ullstein bild goes to Sabine and Arnold Krämer, who answered some of the most pressing questions:

Ms. Krämer, Mr. Krämer, when and how did this important partial collection of Haeckel photographs come to you?

At the end of the 1980s, we were given the photographs by an acquaintance. At the time, he had moved into an apartment in Wielandstrasse in Berlin Friedenau – and found the photographs on a suspended floor in the house. There they had survived undamaged and undiscovered for the many decades between their creation and their discovery.

One of the legendary attic finds – hitherto forgotten original works whose existence was not known for a long time turn up unexpectedly.

The famous attic find. We were fascinated by the wealth of contemporary documents and the variety of pictorial themes. At first glance, it was clear that this was a unique collection and the work of experts in their field.

When did the decision to proceed mature?

During the coronavirus pandemic, we repeatedly looked at other collector's items and considered what to do with these contemporary documents. We did some research to find out where they could be in better hands than with us. That's how we came across you and are delighted that you were the right address for us and that these pictures have enabled us to supplement and further complete the extensive Haeckel collection at ullstein bild. We were happy to hand them over with the intention of making the photographs accessible to the public and ensuring their preservation.

Thank you very much Ms. Krämer, thank you very much Mr. Krämer for this interview!

Questions: Dr. Katrin Bomhoff, ullstein bild collection.

First publication on April 03, 2025.

In the gallery you can see a selection of the original photographs from the ullstein bild collection / Haeckel-Krämer collection.

The complete photo dossier for this new Haeckel collection can be found at ullstein bild.