Ruth Orkin: Women

December 08, 2023 - February 18, 2024

The exhibition "Women" shows a lesser-known side of photographer Ruth Orkin: That of a sensitive, curious, spirited and funny chronicler of American women of the 1940s and 1950s.

After the successful exhibition "Ruth Orkin – A Photo Spirit" in 2021, f³ – Freiraum für Fotografie presents newly discovered and previously unpublished images by the American photographer Ruth Orkin. With sharp wit, Orkin chronicled the 1940s and 50s in photo series such as "Who Works Harder", which compared the lives of a housewife and mother with that of a career women. Orkin documented women in beauty salons, at cocktail parties, dog shows or movie sets in Hollywood. In her photos, we meet Lauren Bacall, Jane Russell, Joan Taylor and Doris Day as well as waitresses, flight attendands, soldiers and best friends.

About Ruth Orkin

Ruth Orkin is one of the few professional female photographers of the 1940s and 1950. Even though her photos were published in various magazines such as the New York Times, Life and and were part of the legendary MOMA exhibitions "The Family of Man", she is not very well-known internationally when compared to her male contemporaries. In her life and work, Ruth Orkin continually experienced and reflected the expectations of society. Her images are modern, free-thinking and sharp commentaries of her time.

Auf einen Blick

• Exhibition: Ruth Orkin: Women
• Location: f³ – Freiraum für Fotografie
• Start: 8 December 2023
• End: 14 February 2024
• Opening Hours: Wednesday to Sunday from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m.
• Admission Fee:
  €5