Artist Index: Riefenstahl, Leni

Riefenstahl, Leni. Schönheit im Olympischen Kampf. 280 S., 2 Bl. Mit zahlr. ganzs. photogr. Abb. 31,5 x 23,5 cm. OLeinen (Einbandentwurf von F. H. Ehmcke) mit goldgeprägtem Rücken- und Deckeltitel. Berlin, Deutscher Verlag, 1937.
Heidtmann 8863. – Erste Ausgabe. Nicht alle der Aufnahmen stammen von der Herausgeberin, denn es handelt sich größtenteils um Photos aus dem Olympia-Film, an dem u.a. auch W. Zielke und A. Grimm mitarbeiteten. – Schönes Exemplar.

Nubian men. 1963. 2 ferrotyped gelatin silver prints on Agfa paper. Each ca. 30,5 x 39,5 cm. 1 with the photographer's production stamp on the verso, the other signed by the photographer on the verso.

In the later stages of her career, Leni Riefenstahl turned her focus to photography, capturing compelling images during her travels to Africa, including Sudan in the 1960s. Her work featured striking portraits of Nubian men and other indigenous groups, along with the region’s landscapes and customs. While her photography is widely admired for its aesthetic quality, it also attracted criticism due to concerns about her portrayal of these cultures, compounded by her controversial past association with Nazi propaganda. – Edges rubbed, some handling creases, scuff marks and irregularities in ferrotype surface, otherwise in good condition.

Self-portrait. Circa 1930. Vintage gelatin silver print (photo postcard). 11 x 8 cm (14 x 9,2 cm). Signed by the photographer in the negative in lower margin.

This self-portrait captures Riefenstahl in a somber and dramatic style that mirrors the intense lighting seen in her later cinematic works. While her artistic talents were evident, her association with the Nazi regime and her role in propaganda filmmaking remain subjects of significant debate and criticism. – Corners slightly bumped, minimal mirroring along edges of print, otherwise in very good condition.

Film set photos taken during the filming of "Tiefland". Circa 1944. 53 vintage gelatin silver prints. Various sizes, between 18 x 10 cm, 10 x 14 cm and 9 x 6 cm. Mounted to album pages, bound in contemporary canvas album with cord binding (slight traces of use).

"Tiefland" was shot, directed, acted in and edited by Leni Riefenstahl. The film was produced by Leni Riefenstahl and Josef Plesner. It was based on the opera "Tiefland" and the play "Terra baixa" by Àngel Guimerà. Shooting took place in 1940-44, but was not completed until after the end of World War II, and the film was finally released on February 11, 1954.
After the war, Leni Riefenstahl was accused of recruiting 48 extras from the Maxglan "gypsy camp" who, after they were no longer needed, were deported to Auschwitz, where more than 20 of them were murdered. The filmmaker Nina Gladitz produced an extensive television documentary on this subject in 1982, which L. Riefenstahl tried to prevent unsuccessfuly by legal means. The album offered here is an enormously important and rare document, since very few portraits of the "Gypsy extras" are known. – Many photos buckled from glue mounting, otherwise most in good to very good condition.

Lit.: Nina Gladitz. Leni Riefenstahl, Karriere einer Täterin, Zurich, 2020.

Mursi tribe woman. 1975/printed later. Chromogenic print on Kodak Professional Digital paper. 43 x 28 cm. Leni Riefenstahl Produktion stamp on the verso.

In very good condition.

Provenance: Directly from the photographer to the current owner

Riefenstahl, Leni. Schönheit im Olympischen Kampf. 280 S., 2 Bl. Mit zahlr. ganzs. photogr. Abb. 31,5 x 23,5 cm. Pergamentband d. Z. mit Deckeltitel in schwarzer Tusche. In Leinenkassette mit Pergament-Schließlasche. Berlin, Deutscher Verlag, 1937.
Heidtmann 8863. – Erste Ausgabe, hier in einem priv. Pergamenteinband d. Z., der in einer beiliegenden Werbebroschüre der Stuttgarter Kreishandwerkerschaft abgebildet ist. Nicht alle der Aufnahmen stammen von der Herausgeberin, denn es handelt sich größtenteils um Photos aus dem Olympia-Film, an dem u.a. auch W. Zielke und A. Grimm mitarbeiteten. – Wohlerhaltenes Exemplar.

Untitled, from the series "Die Nuba"; "Ringkämpfer Natu vom Stamm der Masakin-Nuba", from the series "Die Nuba", (1962-1969)/printed later. 2 chromogenic prints on Kodak paper. Each circa 40,5 x 51 cm. Each with Leni Riefenstahl Produktion stamp on the verso.

Colors shifted through age, some handling marks, otherwise in good condition.

Provenance: Directly from the photographer to the current owner.

African tribal men. 1963. 3 vintage, large-format, ferrotyped gelatin silver prints on Agfa paper. Each circa 39 x 29 cm. 1 signed by the photographer in ink in lower right corner; each with photographer's production stamp and 1 signed by the photographer in ink on the verso.

Slightly buckled, corners slightly bumped, some handling dents, otherwise in good condition.

African tribal men. 1963. 3 vintage, large-format, ferrotyped gelatin silver prints on Agfa paper. Each circa 39 x 29 cm. Each signed by the photographer in pencil and photographer's production stamp on the verso.

Slightly buckled, corners slightly bumped, some handling dents, some retouched spots, otherwise in good condition.

Selected film stills from "Triumph des Willens". 1935. 18 vintage ferrotyped gelatin silver prints. Each circa 23 x 29 cm. Each with number in lower right, some with film text in lower edge in the negative. Some with number notations on the verso.

A rare group of film stills from the 1935 National Socialist propaganda film directed, produced, edited, and co-written by Leni Riefenstahl. It chronicles the 1934 NSDAP Congress in Nuremberg, which was attended by more than 700,000 participants. Riefenstahl's techniques such as moving cameras, aerial photography, the use of long focus lenses to create a distorted perspective, and the revolutionary approach to music and cinematography have earned "Triumph of the Will" recognition as one of the greatest propaganda films in history. Riefenstahl helped to stage the scenes, directing and rehearsing some of them up to fifty times. Riefenstahl won several awards, not only in Germany but also in the United States, France, Sweden and other countries. The scenes show many soldiers and other participants such as children and young people, Hitler giving his speech, other high ranking N.S. officials and various aerial views. – Some with minimal edge wear, otherwise in very good condition.

Massai man. 1963. Vintage, large-format, ferrotyped gelatin silver print on Agfa paper. 39,5 x 30,3 cm. Signed and annotated by the photographer in pencil and photographer's production stamp on the verso.

Slightly buckled, corners slightly bumped, some handling dents near right edge, some retouched spots, otherwise in good condition.

"Liebestanz" (Love dance) from the Nuba series. 1975. Dye transfer print 2002. 41 x 57,5 cm (48 x 59 cm).

In excellent condition.

Lit.: Leni Riefenstahl. Nuba. Berlin 2002, illustrated.
Leni Riefenstahl. Die Nuba. Cologne 2006, illustrated.

Nuba Girl; Nuba Man. 1975. 2 dye transfer prints 2002. Each circa 49 x 59 cm. 1 annotated in pencil on the verso.

Slightly buckled in edges, otherwise in excellent condition.

Lit.: Leni Riefenstahl. Die Nuba. Cologne 2006, illustrated.

"Liebestanz"; Untitled. 1975. 2 dye transfer prints 2002. Each circa 59,5 x 49 cm. Annotated in pencil on the verso.

Slightly buckled in upper edge, otherwise in excellent condition.

Lit.: Leni Riefenstahl. Nuba. Berlin 2002, illustrated.
Leni Riefenstahl. Die Nuba. Cologne 2006, illustrated.

Group of Massai. 1963. Vintage, large-format, ferrotyped gelatin silver print on Agfa paper. 30,5 x 39,9 cm. Signed by the photographer in pencil and photographer's production stamp on the verso.