When we think of Leica,
cameras are obviously an integral part of that.
Leica will be forever connected to the name of Leitz, Ernst Leitz, the
founder of the company. He was followed
by his son, Ernst Leitz II and subsequently his grandson, Ernst Leitz III. As a matter of fact, the name Ernst and Leitz
are so closely connected to the Leica camera that hardly any thought is ever
given if possibly there might have been other Leitz family members that were
not named Ernst.
There were indeed and one of
them was Ludwig Leitz, son of Ernst Leitz II.
He was born in 1907. He studied math
and physics and in 1939 he took over full responsibility for the entire area of
development of his father’s company.
Under his leadership many patents and design innovations of the product
line of the Leitz company were developed.
Ludwig Leitz II
Four generations Leitz:
Ernst Leitz II (second from left) with sons
Ernst (right) and Ludwig (left)
and grandson Knut in front of a portrait of the
company founder Ernst Leitz I.
He was an avid photographer
and accompanied the development of the preproduction cameras, the Nullserie and
the further development of the camera until 1980. His artistic orientation strongly influenced
the design of many of the Leitz products. He even hired the sculptors Adolf
Great and Heinrich Janke to to work for Leitz. The high level of design showed
particularly in the development of the Leica M series cameras. Their basic design survives until this day.
This interest in design did
not happen by accident. In addition to
the study of mathematics and physics Ludwig Leitz graduated in 1926 at Wollek
in Vienna and 1927 as a student at Johannes Itten in Berlin. This was more
often than not done in the evening hours until he finally finished his training
as a sculptor.
Although his artistic work
often had to take a backseat to his job responsibilities, he pursued the
development of contemporary art with a keen interest in. Sketches, models and bronze casts of the
sculptural works of Ludwig Leitz document his artistic aim of identifying the
essence of the form of the random appearance of things.
A special experience for art
lovers is a visit to the "Atelier Ludwig Leitz", which opened to the
public in September of 1984. The Atelier
Ludwig Leitz is currently showing a special selection of his work in commemoration
of the building of the reception building of the Leitz company 60 years
ago. Today this building is the “Neues
Rathaus” (new city hall) in Wetzlar.
The Neues Rathaus (new town hall), the former Empfangsgebäude
(reception building) of Ernst Leitz GmbH. The front door leads to
a large staircase which used to be the way to the original Leica Museum.
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Please make payment via PayPal to GMP Photography
Order: info@gmpphoto.com
Please make payment via PayPal to GMP Photography
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