Untitled (Close-Up of a Zipper), 1928 – 1933

About the Work

In countless photos of the 1920s and ’30s, Albert Renger- Patzsch focussed on the world of things. In that context he succeeded in calling attention to aspects that usually remain hidden from view. An example is this shot of a zipper, a fastening device mass-produced since 1923. The tight framing and blown-up view of the metal teeth give the materiality of brass and cloth centre stage. At the same time, relieved of their function, the interlocking rows of teeth take on an almost unsettling quality.