Jaromir Funke Czech photographer Date of Birth: 01.08.1896 Country: Czech

1. Biography of Jaromir Funke
2. Founding the Czech Photographic Society
3. Support for the Left Front
4. Revolutionary Photography
5. Tragic End

Biography of Jaromir Funke

Jaromir Funke was a Czech photographer and one of the pioneers of the so-called New Czech Photography movement. He was born in 1896 and showed an early interest in intellectual and artistic pursuits, particularly in surrealism, constructivism, and expressionism. In the early 1920s, Funke became one of the most respected critics in the avant-garde photography field as well as in the art world in general.

Founding the Czech Photographic Society

In 1924, Funke co-founded the Czech Photographic Society along with Josef Sudek. During the late 1920s, Funke gained significant recognition for his series of surrealist photographs, particularly his shots of shop windows, which he titled "Glass and Reflection." He also served as a talented educator, teaching photography in Prague and Bratislava, and his students included several talented Czech photographers, including Sudek.

Support for the Left Front

Funke was known for openly supporting communist-oriented photographers of the Left Front. In 1933-1934, he was one of the organizers of the International Exhibitions of Social Photography. In 1936, Funke settled in Prague, where he lived until he was forcibly taken to Germany for labor during the war, a year before its end. He taught at the School of Arts in Prague and the School of Arts and Crafts in Bratislava.

Revolutionary Photography

Funke's photographic style was characterized by unconventional composition and rational construction. His photographs were carefully constructed and imagined, deviating from the traditional representation of reality. Although such artistic approach is now commonplace, it was considered revolutionary in the 1930s.

Tragic End

Jaromir Funke died tragically at the age of 49 on March 19, 1945, allegedly as a result of an accident. However, there is no verified information about the details of his death. Despite his untimely passing, Funke's contributions to Czech photography continue to be recognized and appreciated.