Robert Mann Gallery is presenting a comprehensive exhibition featuring the groundbreaking work of ringl + pit, an innovative photography duo that revolutionized commercial advertising during Germany's Weimar Republic era. The exhibition highlights how these artists experimented with gender roles and consumer culture, creating subversive imagery that challenged the conventional world of cheerful advertising dominated by bright, illustrated pages.
The duo, known by their childhood nicknames ringl + pit, consisted of Grete Stern (ringl) and Ellen Auerbach (pit), who developed their distinctive artistic approach through unconventional still life photography. They captured images of wigs, mannequins, and various merchandise in striking compositions that tapped into Berlin's vibrant avant-garde spirit of the time. Their innovative work transcended traditional advertising boundaries by emphasizing elements of touch, texture, and enigma in ways that had never been seen before in commercial photography.
Both artists received their foundational training under Walter Peterhans, the pioneering photography instructor at the prestigious Bauhaus school, who emphasized the importance of precision, formal clarity, and graphic design in photographic work. In 1930, Stern and Auerbach established their Berlin-based studio under the name ringl + pit, successfully blending avant-garde experimentation with commercial portraiture and advertising photography. Their collaborative approach emerged during a significant period of increasing independence for women in Germany, both socially and artistically.
The duo's photographs challenged conventional advertising norms through their creation of striking, surreal, and meticulously composed images that stood out from typical commercial work of the era. Working in true collaboration, the two women alternated roles behind the camera and on set, constantly refining and perfecting each shot until it achieved their exacting standards. This meticulous approach helped their studio quickly gain recognition as one of Germany's most innovative photography establishments, producing crisp, compelling images that successfully merged modernist aesthetics with subversive wit.
Their groundbreaking work received widespread recognition throughout the international photography community, earning numerous international awards and appearing in influential publications such as Die Gebrauchsgraphik and Cahiers d'Art. The success of their collaboration continued until circumstances led them to different continents, with Auerbach eventually settling in New York while Stern made her permanent home in Buenos Aires. Despite being separated by vast distances, the two artists maintained their lifelong friendship and continued to support each other's work.
In 1985, decades after their original collaboration, Stern and Auerbach co-published "Fotografie ringl + pit," a carefully designed portfolio that deliberately echoed the aesthetic principles and material choices of their early 1930s studio work. This publication served as a testament to their enduring artistic partnership and the lasting impact of their innovative approach to photography.
The ringl + pit exhibition will be on display at Robert Mann Gallery from October 23 through December 6, 2025. The gallery is located at 508 West 26th Street, Suite 9F, New York, NY 10001, and maintains regular viewing hours Tuesday through Friday from 10am to 4pm, and Saturday from 12pm to 5pm. Additional information about the exhibition can be found at www.robertmann.com.
