Introduction: Die Kunst in der Photographie: 1903 

This group set features all plates (60) contained within the six individual issues (lieferung-installment) published for the 1903 yearly volume of  Die Kunst in der Photographie. This includes 36 hand-pulled photogravures and an additional 24 mounted autotype plates. (halftones) Each issue contained 6 photogravures and 4 autotypes. The half-title page-the first compiled letterpress page- states the following overview of work published in 1903:

The content of this year is dedicated to: art photographers at home and abroad, especially the Belgian school, the Linked Ring and the works of Alexandre, Brussels.

Franz Goerke, publisher of Die Kunst in der Photographie, then provides his year-end message and analysis. In particular, he states he has endeavored to publish during the past year the “most beautiful and outstanding achievements” of individual artists, and concludes:  “As long as one talks about art photography, their names will be closely linked to its development.” (translated from German)

The 7th volume of “Art in Photography” is completed before us.

Once again it was a proud series of the first art photographers from home and abroad who collaborated on it.

In this volume, too, I attempted to set a mark for photographic art – art photography in its general efforts, without preferring any direction: the images should speak for themselves, they should prompt criticism.

Even if I was not always able to bring the latest creations from the individual artists, my main concern was to see them represented in this work by their most beautiful and outstanding achievements. — As long as one talks about art photography, their names will be closely linked to its development.

Primarily, it is the Belgian school and the Linked Ring that are featured in this volume, also a number of first names, such as Alexandre-Brussels, Bachmann-Graz, Reginald Craigie-London, Dubreuil-Lille, Horsley Hinton-London, Vanderkindere-Brussels and others. I would like to thank you all for your loyal cooperation.

My thanks also go to the publisher of this work, Mr. Wilhelm Knapp, Halle A. s., who made great sacrifices to ensure that the publisher was able to provide the work with worthy sponsorship.

May this completed year of “Art in Photography” bring many new friends.

Franz Goerke.

The remaining letterpress, intended to be bound with all of the plates into the yearly compiled volume for 1903, also included the following:

Title Page: DIE KUNST IN DER PHOTOGRAPHIE | HERAUSGEGEBEN VON FRANZ GOERKE | SIEBENTER JAHRGANG  1903 | HALLE  A. S. | VERLAG VON WILHELM KNAPP; Plate Index Pages listing the 36 individual photogravure plates by author and title, followed by 24 individual mounted autotype (halftone) plates by author and title. (60 total plates for 1903)