Statement by the German photographer, Heinz HELD
"I'm an Imi. I've lived in this city for fifteen years. I've been courting it for just as long. I'm looking for its secret nature. I let the air of its life carry me away." (freely translated, © Heinz HELD)
Background information
"The abundance of photos taken by photographer Heinz HELD from Cologne goes up to the mid-1970s. His plan to compose an illustrated book from them was never implemented during his lifetime. This photo book, 'Köln in Wirtschaftswunderzeiten' (engl. Cologne in times of economic boom), tries to match the ideas by the photographer Heinz HELD, as can be seen in his writings and in his estate in the Museum Ludwig. This volume shows the city and its inhabitants, unvarnished, undisguised, in splendor and modesty - Heinz HELD, photographer and writer, knew how to depict them precisely With his eye for the magic of everyday life, for the magic of the little things, he has created a panorama of the city and time, bringing the era of the economic miracle back to life, awakening memories and helping to better understand the city's present.
Content
In the photo volume 'Köln in Wirtschaftswunderzeiten', Heinz HELD portrays Cologne and its residents from the 'rubble times' to the mid-1970s, the decades of great growth. His pictures reflect the era of acceleration and expansion, recognizable in the buildings, streets and architecture as well as in the faces of the people who populate and animate this city.