Lisel Haas (1898–1989) was a German photographer. She worked as a photographer at the

Birmingham Repertory Theatre Birmingham Repertory Theatre, commonly called Birmingham Rep or just The Rep, is a producing theatre based on Centenary Square in Birmingham, England. Founded by Barry Jackson, it is the longest-established of Britain's building-based theatre ...

where she photographed many plays. She obtained work with the theatre in 1940, photographing almost every production until she left Birmingham in 1962. During this time many promising actors appeared including

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Ian Richardson Ian William Richardson (7 April 19349 February 2007) was a Scottish actor. He was best known for his portrayal of Conservative politician Francis Urquhart in the BBC's '' House of Cards'' (1990–1995) television trilogy, as well as the pivot ...

and

Derek Jacobi Sir Derek George Jacobi (; born 22 October 1938) is an English actor. Known for his roles on stage and screen as well as for his work at the Royal National Theatre, he has received numerous accolades including a Tony Award, a BAFTA Award, two ...

. She also covered productions at the Alexandra Theatre and the Crescent Theatre in Birmingham, the

Belgrade Theatre The Belgrade Theatre is a live performance venue in Coventry, England. It was the first civic theatre to be built in Britain after the Second World War and is now a Grade II listed building. Background Coventry was the fastest growing city in ...

in Coventry and the Kidderminster Playhouse. After the

Second World War World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

she was able to set up her own photographic studio at her home in Moseley. She worked from here until she left Birmingham.

Early life

Lisel Haas was born in

Mönchengladbach Mönchengladbach (, ) is a List of cities and towns in Germany, city in North Rhine-Westphalia, western Germany, west of the Rhine, halfway between Düsseldorf and the Netherlands, Dutch border. Geography Municipal subdivisions Since 2009, th ...

, Germany in 1898 to Jewish parents. She worked as a portrait photographer and photojournalist. Her special interests were urban childhood, travelling communities and religious practice. On 18 October 1938 she was issued with a decree from the Gladbach Police Authority stipulating that she must display a notice in the window of her photographic studio stating that it was a 'Jewish business' with threat of punishment. Following

Kristallnacht ( ) or the Night of Broken Glass, also called the November pogrom(s) (, ), was a pogrom against Jews carried out by the Nazi Party's (SA) and (SS) paramilitary forces along with some participation from the Hitler Youth and German civilia ...

in November 1938 she abandoned her studio and left Germany with her father. Their application for asylum in the United States was turned down so they turned to Britain and arrived in Birmingham in December 1938.

Using photographs as a 'universal language'

Through the medium of photography Haas attempted to create a 'universal language' through which we are able to remember events and personal memories. She believed that 'life' provided the link between her and her sitters and gave their force and effect. Photography, she felt, was charged by life and by living. Amy Shulman argued that through the medium of photography Haas attempted to create a 'universal language' for both personal and collective memories.

Legacy

The Birmingham City Archives held in the

Library of Birmingham The Library of Birmingham is a public library in Birmingham, England. It is situated on the west side of the city centre at Centenary Square, beside the Birmingham Rep (to which it connects, and with which it shares some facilities) and Baske ...

include original photographs and Lisel Haas' papers.

References

External links

Haas' pictures in the Birmingham Rep Archives
{{DEFAULTSORT:Haas, Lisel People from Mönchengladbach People from Moseley Photographers from North Rhine-Westphalia German women photographers 1898 births Jewish emigrants from Nazi Germany to the United Kingdom German photojournalists 1989 deaths 20th-century German photographers 20th-century German women photographers 20th-century German women Women photojournalists