Photographer Hartwig Ebert is captivating viewers with his striking black-and-white portraits of influential Rottweil residents at a new exhibition in the Johanniterbad Hotel. The display features selected works from his third volume of "People in Rottweil," published last November, showcasing the photographer's ability to capture characteristic expressions like a mischievous smile or a raised eyebrow that define each subject's personality.
The current exhibition presents entirely new portraits that were not included in Ebert's previous display at the Old Town Hall. True to his reputation for excellence, the photographer has installed large-format, high-end prints in the hotel's foyer area that immediately draw visitors' attention. Among the featured subjects is Julia Guhl, whose portrait exemplifies Ebert's masterful eye for composition and character.
Ebert, born in Quedlinburg in 1937, maintains exceptionally high standards for both his photography and printing processes. "It took almost half an hour until one print was finished," Ebert told NRWZ, explaining his meticulous approach to achieving the perfect result. This careful attention to detail ensures that every nuance, saturation level, and brilliance meets his exacting requirements.
The photographer has remained faithful to his monochrome style throughout the third volume of his "People" series, focusing exclusively on black, white, and the spectrum between them. This selective exhibition of portraits clearly demonstrates the clarity, rigor, and respectful attitude toward his subjects that distinguish these character studies from the overwhelming flood of everyday imagery. The host of the exhibition venue, hotelier Tobias Maier, is himself featured both in the current display and in the "People in Rottweil" portrait book.
Ebert's latest work continues a distinguished photographic legacy that began in 1981 with his photo book "In and Around Rottweil." That initial publication proved remarkably successful, with over 1,000 copies sold within just a few weeks. The photographer, who taught at Rottweil's vocational schools from 1975 to 2003, has since produced several acclaimed publications, including "Cultural Monuments in Rottweil" (1987/1997, co-authored with Winfried Hecht) and the first volumes of "People in Rottweil" (1991/2006), all of which received strong public response.
The exhibition at Johanniterbad, which is freely accessible to the public and will run through the new year, demonstrates the photographic signature that Hartwig Ebert has continuously refined throughout his career. The display serves as an compelling invitation for viewers to examine all the portraits in his latest volume with renewed attention and appreciation.
