Anders Petersen: Cafe Lehmitz (allemand) /allemand

by Anders Petersen, Tom Waits (Introduction)

Café Lehmitz, a beer joint at the Reeperbahn, was a meeting point for many who worked in Hamburg's red-light prostitutes, pimps, transvestites, workers, and petty criminals. Anders Petersen was 18 years old when he first visited Hamburg in 1962, chanced upon Café Lehmitz, and established friends that made an impact on his life. In 1968 he returned to Lehmitz, found new regulars , renewed contact and began to take pictures. His photographs, which we first published in book form in 1978, have become classics of their genre Tom Waits used our cover picture for his album Rain dogs. Their candidness and authenticity continue to move the viewer. The solidarity evident in them prevents voyeurism or false pity arising vis-Ã -vis a milieu generally referred to as asocial. The other world of Café Lehmitz, which no longer exists in this form, becomes visible as a lively community with its own self-image and dignity.

Genres: Photography

Hardcover

First published January 1, 1978

Reviews

[Justin Labelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cafe Lehmitz provides a window into a specific time and place.
In the introduction, Petersen explains that what he wanted to do was point out what happens to people who live in a society solely concerned with money.
The photos feel raw. They aren't always beautiful or sharp but that isn't the point.
These people, with what little they appear to have, have each other.
This is a bar where people have fun, vent, play tease and drink.
This is a place where everyone is welcome and everyone is part of a family.
The book succeeds or fails on account of how inviting this appears to you.
There are some moments that really capture humanity.
These are strangers and yet friends and these images are most certainly from a pre-social media age.
An important photobook in its short history of publication.
Anders is also a very kind man and if you get the chance to meet him you'll quickly understand the type of aura he uniquely exhibits.