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Edition 55 (2018) Winner
Wolfgang Kemp
ウォルフガング・ケンプ
Wolfgang Kemp
Profile
- Gender
- Male
- Born
- 1946-05-01 （Frankfurt am Main）
- Nationality
- Germany
- Languages
- German, English
- Residence History
- Frankfurt am Main (birthplace) → Bonn (worked as research assistant) → Kassel (professor at Gesamthochschule/University of Kassel) → Marburg (Philipps University, professor) → Hamburg (University of Hamburg, professor emeritus) → Los Angeles (guest professorships/research)
Career
- Occupations
- Art historian, Author, Professor
- Active Years
- 1970-
- Affiliations
- University of Bonn (research assistant), University of Kassel (professor, until 1983), Philipps University of Marburg (professor, 1983–1995), University of Hamburg (professor, 1995–2011; emeritus), Harvard University (guest professor), UCLA (guest professor), Getty Research Center (guest researcher)
- Influenced By
- John Ruskin, Giotto di Bondone, Hubertus von Amelunxen
Education
| Institution | Faculty | Department | Degree | Period | Country |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eberhard Karls Universität Tübingen | Faculty of Arts | Art history, Philosophy, German studies | Dr. phil. | 1960s–1970 | Germany |
Eberhard Karls Universität Tübingen
Faculty of Arts
/ Art history, Philosophy, German studies
Degree:
Dr. phil.
Period:
1960s–1970
Year of Graduation:
1970
Country:
Germany
Received PhD in art history in 1970; habilitated in 1979 (art history).
Awards
| Year | Award | Work | Category | Organization | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | Kulturpreis der Deutschen Gesellschaft für Photographie | — | — | Deutsche Gesellschaft für Photographie | 受賞 |
| 2018 | Sigmund-Freud-Preis für wissenschaftliche Prosa | — | — | German Academy / awarding body | 受賞 |
Kulturpreis der Deutschen Gesellschaft für Photographie
2018
Organization:
Deutsche Gesellschaft für Photographie
Result:
受賞
Sigmund-Freud-Preis für wissenschaftliche Prosa
2018
Organization:
German Academy / awarding body
Result:
受賞
Awards & Nominations
Works
Major Works
John Ruskin. 1819–1900. Life and Work
1983 Biography / Art historyA study of John Ruskin's life and work from the perspective of art history.
Ruskin studiesVictorian art criticism
Theorie der Fotografie. I–IV, 1839–1995
2006 History and theory of photographyComprehensive examination of the history and theory of photography from 1839 onwards (edited volume).
history of photographymedia theoryvisual culture
Vertraulicher Bericht über den Verkauf einer Kommode und andere Kunstgeschichten
2002 Essays / ProseA collection of essays and stories reflecting on the international art world with irony and humor, including reflections on the art market and reception.
art marketreception of the viewerirony and humor
Die Räume der Maler. Zur Bilderzählung seit Giotto
1996 Art history / IconographyAnalysis of pictorial storytelling and spatial representation in painting since Giotto.
narrativityspatial representationmedieval and early modern painting
Der explizite Betrachter. Zur Rezeption zeitgenössischer Kunst
2015 Art theory / Reception aestheticsTheoretical considerations on how contemporary art is received, focusing on the explicit role of the viewer.
reception aestheticsviewer studiescontemporary art
Bibliography
- John Ruskin. 1819–1900. Leben und Werk (1983)
- Sermo corporeus. Die Erzählung der mittelalterlichen Glasfenster (1987)
- Christliche Kunst. Ihre Anfänge, ihre Strukturen (1994)
- Die Räume der Maler. Zur Bilderzählung seit Giotto (1996)
- Theorie der Fotografie. I–IV, 1839–1995 (2006, ed.)
- Foto-Essays. Zur Geschichte und Theorie der Fotografie (2006)
- Back to the Library! (essay, 2005)
- Foreign affairs. Die Abenteuer einiger Engländer in Deutschland 1900–1947 (2010)
- Der explizite Betrachter. Zur Rezeption zeitgenössischer Kunst (2015)
- Wir haben ja alle Deutschland nicht gekannt. Das Deutschlandbild der Deutschen in der Zeit der Weimarer Republik (2016)
- Der Oligarch (2016)
- Die ehrbaren Täuscher. Rembrandt und Descartes im Jahr 1641 (2023)
- Irgendwie so total spannend. Unser schöner neuer Sprachgebrauch (ed., 2025)
Style & Themes
- Literary Style
- scholarly and theoretical analysisessayistic irony and witclear discourse on reception and visuality
- Recurring Motifs
- history and theory of photographyreception aestheticsiconography and medieval artart market and the viewer
Legacy
Wolfgang Kemp is a German art historian and educator who made significant contributions to photography theory, reception aesthetics and medieval iconography. Through long university service, international visiting appointments and interdisciplinary research he influenced contemporary art theory and photographic studies.
Academic Societies
- Deutsche Gesellschaft für Photographie
Archives
- German National Library (holds publications and related materials)
Trivia
- Emeritus at the University of Hamburg since 2011.
- Has held visiting professorships and fellowships at Harvard, UCLA, the Getty Research Center and the Wissenschaftskolleg zu Berlin.
- Publishes both scholarly works and essays in newspapers and literary journals.