On November 13, the Deutsches Haus at New York University will open the exhibition “Harald Hauswald: Life in East Germany”, curated by Martin Schoeller, one of today’s most renowned portrait photographers.
The exhibition presents iconic black-and-white photographs by Harald Hauswald that document life in the GDR with a distinctive eye full of empathy, humor and precise observation.
Harald Hauswald is regarded as one of East Germany’s most important visual chroniclers.
His images capture everyday life beyond official propaganda – the private, the human, the occasionally absurd – and thus make a vital chapter of contemporary history visible. Between prefabricated housing blocks and youth festivals, grey streets and radiant moments, he paints the portrait of a society in transition.
The exhibition reveals not only everyday life under socialism but also the perspective of a photographer who was himself under constant surveillance.
Between 1978 and 1989, Hauswald was monitored by the Stasi – the contents of his secret police files are part of the exhibition, illustrating how his work became a visual counter-archive to the official narratives of the GDR.
At the exhibition opening on November 13, 2025, a conversation between Harald Hauswald and Martin Schoeller will take place.
Both photographers share a precise and respectful gaze toward their subjects – Hauswald in the streets of East Berlin, Schoeller in the faces of the world.
Known for his iconic close-up portraits, Schoeller brings a fresh curatorial perspective to Hauswald’s work. His presentation highlights the universal power of photography to make truth visible – regardless of time, place, or political system.
Hahnemühle is proud to support this exhibition.
For printing the black-and-white photographs, curator Martin Schoeller deliberately chose Hahnemühle Photo Rag® Baryta.
“I had a lot of fun curating the exhibition of my friend Harald Hauswald for the Deutsches Haus in New York. For printing Harald’s black-and-white photos, I chose Photo Rag Baryta because the paper shares many qualities with traditional silver gelatin baryta paper. It has a subtle organic texture, is made of cotton, and feels like real photographic paper. It has a slight gloss, which adds depth – it almost looks three-dimensional.
Harald worked almost exclusively with 35mm film, and in some of his images, the highlights lack detail. Hahnemühle Photo Rag Baryta is not as bright white as photographic baryta paper, which complements these bright, blown-out areas very well.”
Photographer Martin Schoeller
This exhibition not only honors an important chapter of German history but also demonstrates how material, craftsmanship, and artistic intention form an inseparable unity in photography. The interplay between Hauswald’s authentic vision and the tactile quality of Hahnemühle Photo Rag Baryta gives his images a special depth and presence – in the spirit of a living culture of remembrance that resonates across continents.
