Erich Salomon

author · photographer

German^[1,2] b. 28 April 1886, Berlin, Germany^[1,2] d. 7 July 1944, Auschwitz, Poland^[1,2] active 1928–1944

Dr. Erich Salomon (1886–1944) was a pioneering German photojournalist and one of the world's first 'candid camera' photographers. Born into a prominent Jewish family in Berlin, he initially studied law before establishing himself as an independent photographer in 1928. He became renowned for his ability to inconspicuously capture high-level political figures and socialites at unguarded moments, often using modified Leica cameras with long telephoto lenses or concealing them in hats and briefcases. Salomon was a significant figure in Dutch photography; he was the first to photograph sessions of the Dutch parliament and other government bodies. His work documented international conferences, courtrooms, and high society across Europe and the United States. Despite his success as a 'photo historian,' he faced severe persecution during World War II. He was arrested by German authorities in 1942 and eventually deported from Westerbork to Auschwitz, where he and his family were murdered.^[1,2]

• candid photography
• political reportage
• high society
• courtroom documentation