The German photographer – who flourished with the help of Man Ray during her time in Paris – would have been 100 years old this year. To celebrate, the Esther Woerdehoff gallery is showing some of her beautiful black & white photos, taken in Paris between 1929 and 1938…

Auteuil, 1929 © Marianne Breslauer. Courtesy Galerie Esther Woerdehoff, Paris et Fondation Suisse pour la Photographie, Winterthur.

Born in Berlin in 1909, Marianne Breslauer took photography lesson in Berlin before arriving in Paris at the age of 20. Before long she had met Man Ray and became part of the artistic Montparnasse set.

Jardin du Luxembourg © Marianne Breslauer. Courtesy Galerie Esther Woerdehoff, Paris et Fondation Suisse pour la Photographie, Winterthur.

During nearly a decade, on the cusp of the Second World War, she photographed Paris, winning the ‘photo of the year’ prize at the International Photographic Art fair in Paris in 1934, before leaving the city to live in Amsterdam and then Zurich because of growing problems related to her Jewish origins. In 1938 she stopped taking photos altogether.

Forgotten for many years, her work was rediscovered during the 80s, and this exhibition is a tribute to her unique eye.

La Cigarette, 1929 © Marianne Breslauer. Courtesy Galerie Esther Woerdehoff, Paris et Fondation Suisse pour la Photographie, Winterthur.

The Marianne Breslauer exhibition continues at the Esther Woerdehoff gallery (here) until 5th December 2009. Open Tuesday – Saturday, 2 – 6pm. Admission free.