Manfred Schmalriede
Abbild Kontext Zeichen Foto

The photo theorist, professor, lecturer, school founder, and author Manfred Schmalriede (*Pforzheim 1937) passed away in the autumn of 2023. He left behind an extensive collection of writings and lectures composed in connection with his teaching activities, as well as for magazines, exhibitions, and book projects. During his lifetime, however, no book was ever published that presented his comprehensive journalistic projects in a collected form. The foundational texts assembled for this volume were still selected jointly by Manfred Schmalriede and the editors. The organization and structure of the book were determined by Silke Helmerding (Professor of Artistic Photography at Pforzheim University) and Jörn Vanhöfen (former student of Manfred Schmalriede, photographer, teacher, and co-founder—along with Manfred Schmalriede and Arno Fischer—of the Fotoschule am Schiffbauerdamm, fas).

About Manfred Schmalriede: Studied Art (HbK Hamburg), followed by studies in History, Art History, and Philosophy (Stuttgart and Tübingen), as well as Aesthetics and Semiotics under Max Bense in Stuttgart. 1971–2002 Professor of Art and Design Theory, Semiotics, and Aesthetics at Pforzheim University; 1979–1991 Lecturer for the History and Theory of Photography at the University of Essen (formerly Folkwang School); 2000–2006 Co-founder and teacher at the Fotoschule Fotografie am Schiffbauerdamm (fas); Workshops on the theory of photography at Cranbrook Academy, MI, and Cleveland State University, Ohio; 2007 Founder of the Neue Schule für Fotografie in Berlin (International Academy for Photography, IAPh), where he played a decisive role as a board member and lecturer.

Selected Press
photophilosphy.net, Rolf Noergaard, April 2026