Roman Vishniac Rediscovered. The Photographers Gallery London

photo by Roman Vishniac -  Ernst Kaufmann center -
jewish youth learning construction techniques in a quarry -
Werkdorp Nieuwesluis Wieringermeer The Netherlands

With a retrospective itinerary, The Photographers Gallery in London is presenting a whole stand of exposition of the imagery taken by Roman Vishniac. This way, the social and political visual documentation of the Jewish detriment during the years between the two World Wars in Europe; recently discovered vintage prints and his last passion for Photomicroscopy are being shown.

The exhibition goes by the hand to spread the central point of his photography during the big wars period: the rights lost by Jews and their impoverished situation. At this level the images are based on street occasional photos that offer a daily life perspective of the context and youth occupations. The post-war realities of refuges in America and Berlin were also a topic that takes the time of the photographer, so, enriching the archives of the actions taking part to help the community. But also the exhibition presents the works produced to enlighten the biological knowledge of the time by generating images of microscopic entities, activity that was part of his itinerary research as Biology professor. The event is occurring on parallel at the Jewish Museum London and is organized by the International Center of Photography. “Roman Vishniac Rediscovered” will be open to the public until February 24, 2019.

photo by Roman Vishniac - Woman walking on crutches through ruins, Berlin

photo by Roman Vishniac - Girls walking arm in arm
along a row of ruined buildings in a residential area, Berlin

photo by Roman Vishniac - Bastille Day celebrations,
 rue du Faubourg-Montmartre, Paris

photo by Roman Vishniac - Waiting for packages at a
Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (JDC),
Schlachtensee Displaced Persons camp, Zehlendorf, Berlin

photo by Roman Vishniac - Waiting for packages at a
 Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (JDC)
 - Schlachtensee Displaced Persons camp, Zehlendorf, Berlin

photo by Roman Vishniac -Boys exercising in the gymnasium
of the Jewish Community House of Bensonhurst, Brooklyn, New York

photo by Roman Vishniac - Jannetje Jansen and Neeltje Schipper
 wearing klederdracht (traditional costumes), Marken, the Netherlands

photo by Roman Vishniac - apprentice butchers celebrate graduation
after passing their exams; the sign reads We made it!, Hardenbergstrasse, Berlin

photo by Roman Vishniac - During the Summer Olympic Games,
Wittenbergplatz, Berlin

photo by Roman Vishniac - Sunlight streaming into
Leipzig Central Station, Leipzig, Germany

photo by Roman Vishniac - Marc Chagall -New York - 1941

photo by Roman Vishniac - Interior of the Anhalter Bahnhof railway
 terminus near Potsdamer Platz, Berlin

The photos in this article are a personal selection from the Roman Vishniac archive at the International Center of Photography, and not necessarily form part of the exhibition.