Artist Index: Tobias, Herbert

Dick in front of the Window, Hotel Naumur, Rue Delambre, Paris Montparnasse. 1952. Gelatin silver print, printed later. 34,4 x 34,4 cm (sheet 50 x 40 cm). Signed, titled and dated by the photographer in pencil in lower margin.

Herbert Tobias is known for his psychologically charged portraiture, shaped by influences from dance, Surrealism, and theatrical staging. Emerging in postwar Berlin, he photographed figures from artistic and queer subcultures, often exploring themes of identity, performance, and gender through stylized, collaborative portraits. – A few spots in margins, otherwise a rich dark print in very good condition.

Lit.: Herbert Tobias. Photographien. Berlin: Fröhlich & Kaufmann, 1985, ill. p. 51.

Arthur Umboh. 1980. Portfolio of 16 gelatin silver prints. Each 40 × 30,5 cm. Each signed, titled, and dated by the photographer in pencil below the image in the margin; “Herbert Tobias succession binoche” stamp on the verso. Presented in a golden folder. Dedication in felt-tip on the inside flap: “Für Pali with love, Weihnachten 1980 von Tobias.”

Portfolio with nudes and a few portraits of Arthur Umboh in various poses. – Folder with rubbed edges and general signs of use. Some scuff marks on individual prints, slight buckling along the edges, otherwise stong prints with a fine tonal quality.

Lit.: Bernhard Albers, ed. Herbert Tobias: Fotografien aus der Sammlung Pali Meller Marcovicz. Aachen: Rimbaud, 1996, several ill. (unpaginated).

"Moi au fenetre, 2 rue Adèle, Paris Clamart". 1952. Vintage gelatin silver print. 34,5 x 34,5 cm (58 x 55 cm). Signed and dated by the photographer in pencil below image in margin in lower right; photographer's/copyright stamp and annotated Selbstdarstellung and dated in pencil on the verso. Framed under glass in hand gilded frame.

In excellent condition.

Lit.: Boris von Brauchitsch (ed.). Enthüllungen. Berlin 2019, ill. p. 91.

"Berlin, Ansbacher-Strasse". 1953/printed 1979. Large format gelatin silver print. 46 x 45,5 cm (60,5 x 50 cm). Signed, titled and dated by the photographer in pencil below the image in margin.

Small backed tear in left margin, otherwise in very good condition.

"Trümmer-Jungens am Olivaer Platz, Berlin". 1954/printed later. Gelatin silver print on RC paper. 35 x 35 cm (50 x 40 cm). Signed, titled and dated by the photographer in pencil below the image in margin.

Paper slightly toned, otherwise in good condition.

Lit.: Peter Weiermair (ed.). Herbert Tobias. Photographien. Berlin 1985, ill. p. 66.

"Valeska Gert" portfolio. 1952 -1976/printed 1978. 10 gelatin silver prints. Each between 8 x 9,7 cm and 27 x 27 cm (40 x 30 cm). Each signed, titled, dated and editioned by the photographer in pencil below the images in the margin; photographer's/copyright stamp on the verso. In original red paper portfolio (slight traces of use) with Edition Werner Kunze label on front cover. From an edition of 45.

In very good condition.

Lit.: Peter Weiermair (ed.). Herbert Tobias. Photographien. Berlin 1985, ill. p. 92 (Valeska Gert in Kampen).

"Claude sensuell, Paris.". 1953/printed later. Gelatin silver print on RC paper. 28,3 x 27,5 cm (31,4 x 30,4 cm). Signed by the photographer in ink on the verso.



Literatur: Ulrich Domröse (ed.). Der Fotograf Herbert Tobias 1924 - 1982. Blicke und Begehren. Göttingen 2008, ill. p. 44.

Male nude on tree. 1970s. Vintage gelatin silver print on RC paper. 28 x 27,7 cm (40,2 x 30,2 cm). Photographer's copyright stamp on the verso.