A curated digital collection of 31 black-and-white photographs from Alfred Ehrhardt’s Nautilus – Muscheln und Schnecken (1938–1941) is now available through APHEUM, in partnership with the Alfred Ehrhardt Stiftung. The series, which captures shells and snails in stark, high-contrast compositions, will be displayed permanently in Berlin alongside a digital frame designed to mimic traditional prints.
APHEUM’s Frame M, a non-luminous e-paper display measuring 42 x 35 centimeters, will showcase the photographs without glare or distortion. Unlike physical prints, the digital format allows for easy updates, enabling curators to rotate images or adjust the collection over time. The Alfred Ehrhardt Stiftung will host a permanent installation of the frame in Berlin, ensuring public access to the series.
Dr. Christiane Stahl, director of the foundation, said, “The photographs of shells and snails hold a special place within Alfred Ehrhardt’s work. They bring together his Bauhaus-informed understanding of form, his interest in material and structure, and his philosophy of nature. Making these 31 works accessible as a coherent collection opens another route into this important body of work.”
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Founder Christopher Colshorn stated, “For APHEUM, it is something special to be able to offer such an important and coherent body of work by Alfred Ehrhardt as a collection. These photographs reveal the richness that comes from such concentrated observation of form, light, and material. Our aim is not merely to make images visible, but to create a meaningful encounter with the work, giving it a lasting presence in the room while providing the context that reveals its significance.”
Ehrhardt’s Nautilus series is part of a broader body of work that established him as a key figure in New Objectivity, a movement that rejected idealism in favor of precise, often stark depictions of reality. Though he began as a musician and art educator, his photography and filmmaking, including over 20 photobooks and 60 films—earned him international recognition, culminating in four German Federal Film Awards. His Bauhaus training in Dessau (1928–29) shaped his visual language, blending geometric rigor with organic subject matter.
The digital collection will be available for purchase from September 10, 2026, through APHEUM and the Alfred Ehrhardt Stiftung’s official channels. Interested buyers can select individual frames or the full curated set, with updates managed remotely. For those in Berlin, the frame will remain on display at the foundation’s headquarters, offering a permanent glimpse into Ehrhardt’s process.
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