Ernst Haas: Letters & Stories
Text: Inge Bondi
Research and writing associate: Rixt A. Bosma
Published by Damiani Books, Italy 2023
Paperback | 160 pages | 57 color illustrations
English language | ISBN 9788862088053
Producer: Susan Meiselas | Assistant producer: Sumeja Tulic
Editor: Helen Rogan | Book design: Lorenzo Tugnoli
Final image proofing: Todd Weinstein and Alex Haas
about the book
I am proud to let you know that the book on which I have collaborated for a long time with Inge Bondi (1925-2024) has been published by the Italian publisher Damiani.
"Ernst Haas: Letters & Stories" is a unique biography about the famous pioneer of color photography, Ernst Haas (Vienna, 1921 - New York, 1986). In the last years of her life, Inge worked on the manuscript that honours the versatile and visionary legacy of photographer Ernst Haas, based on his own letters, notes and poems.
Inge and Ernst met after the War at the Magnum Photos New York office: Inge joined Magnum in 1950 and became director of Special Projects. She worked at the famous photographers' cooperative for twenty years and followed the career of Ernst Haas closely from the start.
From 2009 onwards I stayed with Inge almost annually and I was able to assist her in her research and writing of the manuscript. In recent years, Magnum photographer Susan Meiselas (also director of the Magnum Foundation) became involved as a producer of the book and "Ernst Haas: Letters & Stories" finally became a reality in the Fall of 2023.
At the age of 98, Inge was able to attend her book presentation at Princeton University in good health, and we were all very grateful for that.
Inge passed away in January 2024.
A beautiful In Memoriam written by Nadya Bair can be found on the Magnum Photos website. It contains the video interview I created with Inge in the Summer of 2023, about the background of the book.
Magnum Photos Inge Bondi IM
I'm very grateful to have been part of the research and writing process with Inge and for her loving friendship.
Rixt (Leiden, 2024)
BOOK PRESENTATIONS:
Princeton University (USA), October 2023
Paris Photo (FR), November 2023
