Signed by hand on the reverse by Robert Lebeck and bearing the studio stamp. Fully framed in a studio frame with a mat and museum-quality glass. Featured on page 239 of the monograph “Vis-à-Vis” published by Steidl.



Robert Lebeck (1929–2014)

Robert Lebeck is regarded as one of the defining figures of post-war German photography. Over several decades, he documented political events, social change, and cultural life with a visual language distinguished by precision, restraint, and remarkable empathy. Rather than relying on dramatic staging, his photographs derive their strength from careful observation and an exceptional sensitivity to the decisive moment. His portraits, in particular, reveal not public personas but the individuality of the people before his camera. Through this approach, Lebeck created a body of work that is now considered an important chapter in the history of German photography.



Klaus Kinski

In this portrait, Robert Lebeck directs the viewer’s attention away from the provocative public image that defined Klaus Kinski and toward the person behind the façade. The photograph draws its power from the subtle interplay of expression, posture, and atmosphere. Without elaborate staging, Lebeck creates an image of striking presence, balancing quietness with an underlying sense of tension. This ability to portray well-known figures in unexpected, almost intimate moments is one of the hallmarks of his work. The photograph is therefore more than a portrait of Klaus Kinski; it exemplifies Lebeck’s extraordinary gift for capturing the decisive moment and revealing the psychological depth of portrait photography.