Hans Finsler

(b Zurich, 7 Dec 1891; d Zurich, 1972). German photographer and teacher. He studied architecture at the Technische Hochschule in Munich (1909-14), later studying art history (1914-18). In 1922 he became librarian at the Kunstgewerbeschule in Halle, where he also taught art history. While there he developed his 'object photography', teaching a class in it from 1927 to 1932. From this period date photographs such as Ceramic Tubing (c. 1929; see exh. cat., p. 84). In 1932 he became head of the photography department at the Kunstgewerbeschule in Zurich, where he remained until 1958, and where he was an important influence on Ren? Burri and Werner Bischof.

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Finsler, Hans (1891-1972), German-born photographer, active in Switzerland. He studied architecture and art history before taking up photography in the 1920s. His work was dominated by contemporary Neue Sachlichkeit. In 1932 he settled in Zurich, established a studio for advertising photography, and founded a photography class at the Design School which he headed until 1957. He taught many famous Swiss photographers, including Werner Bischof, René Burri, Emil Schulthess, and René Gröbli.

— Ulrich Rüter

Bibliography

• Hans Finsler: Neue Wege der Photographie (1991)