A hotel clerk in a smart uniform stretches down to a dachshund, apparently in conversation with the little fellow, late at night in London on Piccadilly Circus, in the late 1930s. Then at a similar time in New York at a bar, English sailors are focused on the elegantly dressed woman in their midst.
Impressive snapshots like these feature the exhibition by Kurt Hutton (1893-1960) and show a cross-section of his work. As a true chronicler and sensitive portraitist, Hutton is one of the most important pioneers of photojournalism. Originally born in Strasbourg as Kurt Hübschmann, the photographer emigrated to London before the Second World War. He changed his name and started his career as a photojournalist again at Weekly Illustrated.
His wide-ranging oeuvre includes not only classic reportage shots but also insightful portraits and humorous moments from the life of the 30s to 50s. Hutton photographed almost exclusively with Leica: With the 35mm photography he found the flexibility and spontaneity that was important to him.
