Werner Mantz

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This publication accompanies the retrospective exhibition of Werner Mantz at the Bonnefanten in Maastricht from 25 September 2022 to 26 February 2023. Mantz (1901-1983) was a significant architectural and industrial photographer who began his career in the 1920s. His work is notable for its visual language, technical skill, and use of natural light. As a key figure in the New Building movement, Mantz’s oeuvre connects commissioned photography with the modernist avant-garde movements of the interwar years, including the Bauhaus. In the 1970s, he was recognized as the ‘missing link’ in the history of international photography. Until now, only thematic selections of his extensive work have been exhibited. This monograph aims to present his remarkable versatility for the first time. It features over 300 predominantly vintage images, encompassing architectural photography, advertising, portraits, industrial views, religious subjects, shops, restaurants, interiors, landscapes, and travel photographs. Mantz’s contributions to international photography are undeniable. The book includes text contributions from Frits Gierstberg, Stijn Huijts, Huub Smeets, Charlotte Mantz, and Clément Mantz, further enriching the understanding of his legacy.