On September 11, 2001, the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center changed the world. F.A.Z. photojournalist Helmut Fricke happened to be in Manhattan when the Twin Towers were attacked and collapsed – becoming a direct eyewitness to one of the most defining events in recent history. For ten days he photographed the scene, using among other cameras an analog Leica M6, capturing the horror, the tragedy, the exhaustion, the solidarity, and the hope.
Twenty-five years after the attacks, Helmut Fricke is publishing his photographic legacy of 9/11 for the first time, exclusively in an exhibition “9/11 – Under Attack.” The haunting black-and-white images, together with a selection of color street photography motifs, convey the events of September 11 from an immediate, intuitive perspective, marked by their analog, documentary character.
Exclusive Launch via Hahnemühle MyArtRegistry
Timed to the exhibition, the images are being brought to the fine art photography market for the first time as limited editions – exclusively via Hahnemühle MyArtRegistry. The online platform for the authentication, reproduction, and worldwide distribution of certified artworks makes Helmut Fricke’s iconic 9/11 images accessible worldwide and permanently preserved.
The works are printed exclusively as premium FineArt prints on Hahnemühle Hemp paper – the black-and-white motifs on Hemp Glossy Baryta, the color motifs on Hemp. The choice of these two conservation-grade FineArt inkjet papers was deliberate: hemp paper. In the year marking the 250th anniversary of the American Declaration of Independence, this closes a special circle: ‘Hemp paper was among the writing materials used at the time of America’s founding fathers and to this day stands for durability and the preservation of significant testimonies of history,’ says Hahnemühle CEO Jan Wölfle.
“Combined with state-of-the-art pigment inks, color stability and resistance to aging are guaranteed for centuries – my 9/11 legacy is now being published for the first time, exclusively on Hahnemühle MyArtRegistry,” adds photographer Helmut Fricke.
A Collaboration Between F.A.Z., Massif Central, and Hahnemühle
“9/11 – Under Attack” is a joint exhibition by Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, Massif Central at Bethmanhof in Frankfurt am Main, and Hahnemühle. The exhibition is hosted and accompanied by Dany Michalski, who has worked with Hahnemühle for many years launching successful FineArt projects around Hahnemühle paper.
The exhibition will be opened with a vernissage on September 10, 2026, at 6:30 p.m. at Massif Central, Frankfurt am Main. The opening will include a panel discussion on the day that changed the world 25 years ago.
Following the opening, the exhibition will be on view free of charge from September 10 to 30, 2026, during regular opening hours. Please note that certain areas may have limited accessibility from September 22 to 28. For up-to-date information on accessibility, please contact hallo@massifcentral.rocks before your visit.
Exhibition Opening Hours
Monday: 11 a.m.–4 p.m. Tuesday to Saturday: 11 a.m.–9 p.m.
About the Exhibition
“9/11 – Under Attack” presents a selection of the most haunting photographs taken by F.A.Z. photographer Helmut Fricke on September 11, 2001 – printed exclusively on Hahnemühle Digital FineArt paper and available worldwide for the first time via Hahnemühle MyArtRegistry.
About MyArtRegistry
To mark the exhibition, Helmut Fricke is publishing his photographic legacy of 9/11 for the first time and exclusively on MyArtRegistry by Hahnemühle. This online platform for the authentication, reproduction, and worldwide distribution of certified artworks makes strictly limited editions of the iconic 9/11 images accessible around the world.
