Barbara Klemm

BARBARA KLEMM

China 1985 Galerie—Peter—Sillem 6 November–18 December 2026 Frankfurt

Overview Artworks Location

Request Prices & Availability

Press Release

Barbara Klemm’s photographs of China take us into a particular moment of profound change. In 1985, the country was still deeply shaped by the Mao era, while Deng Xiaoping’s policy of “reform and opening up” had already set far-reaching transformation in motion.

Klemm’s gaze is not directed at major political events, but at people and their everyday lives: at fields and markets, factories and homes, at work, food, and rare moments of quiet. The result is a compelling portrait of a society caught between past and future.

More than forty years later, Barbara Klemm’s photographs show a China that no longer exists in this form – while at the same time preserving the moment in which the country’s present-day reality began to take shape.

—

Barbara Klemm is considered one of the most important contemporary German photographers. She was born in 1939 in Münster and raised in Karlsruhe. She has worked for the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung since 1959 and became the newspaper’s editorial photographer for politics and culture in 1970. Barbara Klemm received numerous awards for her work, including the Dr. Erich Salomon Prize of the German Photographic Society (1989), the Hugo Erfurth Prize of the City of Leverkusen (1989), the Maria Sibylla Merian Prize (1998), the Hessian Cultural Prize (2000) and the Max Beckmann Prize of the City of Frankfurt (2009). Barbara Klemm was the first woman to have received the Leica Hall of Fame Award (2012). Since 1992 Barbara Klemm has been a member of the Berlin Academy of the Arts; In 2010 she was elected as a member of the Order “Pour le Mérite”. Barbara Klemm lives in Frankfurt am Main.

Read More

Installation Views

Barbara Klemm, Qingdao, China, 1985. Silver gelatin print, 40 x 30 cm, signed, framed

Barbara Klemm, Beijing, China, 1985. Silver gelatin print, 30 x 40 cm, signed, framed

Barbara Klemm, VW plant, Shanghai, China, 1985. Silver gelatin print, 30 x 40 cm, signed, framed

Barbara Klemm, Landscape near Lao Shan, China, 1985. Silver gelatin print, 30 x 40 cm, signed, framed

Barbara Klemm, Great Wall of China near Beijing, China, 1985. Silver gelatin print, 30 x 40 cm, signed, framed

Barbara Klemm, Beijing 1985. Silver gelatin print, 30 x 40 cm, signed, framed

Selected Works

Alte Frauen Xian China by Barbara Klemm contemporary artwork photography

Barbara Klemm Alte Frauen, Xian, China, 1985 Gelatin silver print, printed later by the artist, framed with museum glass
30 x 40 cm
Galerie—Peter—Sillem EUR 3,570 Check Availability

Altstadt Shanghai China by Barbara Klemm contemporary artwork photography

Barbara Klemm Altstadt, Shanghai, China, 1985 Gelatin silver print, printed later by the artist, framed with museum glass
30 x 40 cm
Galerie—Peter—Sillem EUR 3,570 Check Availability

Chinesische Mauer bei Peking China by Barbara Klemm contemporary artwork photography

Barbara Klemm Chinesische Mauer bei Peking, China, 1985 Gelatin silver print, printed later by the artist, framed with museum glass
30 x 40 cm
Galerie—Peter—Sillem EUR 3,570 Check Availability

Hutongs Peking China by Barbara Klemm contemporary artwork photography

Barbara Klemm Hutongs, Peking, China, 1985 Gelatin silver print, printed later by the artist, framed with museum glass
30 x 40 cm
Galerie—Peter—Sillem EUR 3,570 Check Availability

Im Kaiserpalast Peking China by Barbara Klemm contemporary artwork photography

Barbara Klemm Im Kaiserpalast, Peking, China, 1985 Gelatin silver print, printed later by the artist, framed with museum glass
30 x 40 cm
Galerie—Peter—Sillem EUR 3,570 Check Availability

Kantine Peking China by Barbara Klemm contemporary artwork photography

Barbara Klemm Kantine, Peking, China, 1985 Vintage gelatin silver print, printed by the artist, framed with museum glass
30 x 40 cm
Galerie—Peter—Sillem EUR 3,570 Check Availability

Kormoranfischer bei Peking China by Barbara Klemm contemporary artwork photography

Barbara Klemm Kormoranfischer bei Peking, China, 1985 Gelatin silver print, printed later by the artist, framed with museum glass
30 x 40 cm
Galerie—Peter—Sillem EUR 3,570 Check Availability

Landschaft bei Lao Shan China by Barbara Klemm contemporary artwork photography

Barbara Klemm Landschaft bei Lao Shan, China, 1985 Gelatin silver print, printed later by the artist, framed with museum glass
30 x 40 cm
Galerie—Peter—Sillem EUR 3,570 Check Availability

Marktfrau Peking China by Barbara Klemm contemporary artwork photography

Barbara Klemm Marktfrau, Peking, China, 1985 Gelatin silver print, printed later by the artist, framed with museum glass
40 x 30 cm
Galerie—Peter—Sillem EUR 3,570 Check Availability

Peking China by Barbara Klemm contemporary artwork photography

Barbara Klemm Peking, China, 1985 Gelatin silver print, printed later by the artist, framed with museum glass
30 x 40 cm
Galerie—Peter—Sillem EUR 3,570 Check Availability

Peking China by Barbara Klemm contemporary artwork photography

Barbara Klemm Peking, China, 1985 Gelatin silver print, printed later by the artist, framed with museum glass
30 x 40 cm
Galerie—Peter—Sillem EUR 3,570 Check Availability

Peking China by Barbara Klemm contemporary artwork photography

Barbara Klemm Peking, China, 1985 Gelatin silver print, printed later by the artist, framed with museum glass
30 x 40 cm
Galerie—Peter—Sillem EUR 3,570 Check Availability

Peking China by Barbara Klemm contemporary artwork photography

Barbara Klemm Peking, China, 1985 Gelatin silver print, printed later by the artist, framed with museum glass
30 x 40 cm
Galerie—Peter—Sillem EUR 3,570 Check Availability

Peking China by Barbara Klemm contemporary artwork photography

Barbara Klemm Peking, China, 1985 Gelatin silver print, printed later by the artist, framed with museum glass
30 x 40 cm
Galerie—Peter—Sillem EUR 3,570 Check Availability

Peking China by Barbara Klemm contemporary artwork photography

Barbara Klemm Peking, China, 1985 Gelatin silver print, printed later by the artist, framed with museum glass
30 x 40 cm
Galerie—Peter—Sillem EUR 3,570 Check Availability

Qingdao China by Barbara Klemm contemporary artwork photography

Barbara Klemm Qingdao, China, 1985 Gelatin silver print, printed later by the artist, framed with museum glass
40 x 30 cm
Galerie—Peter—Sillem EUR 3,570 Check Availability

Shanghai China by Barbara Klemm contemporary artwork photography

Barbara Klemm Shanghai, China, 1985 Gelatin silver print by the artist, printed later, framed with museum glass
30 x 40 cm
Galerie—Peter—Sillem EUR 3,570 Check Availability

Shanghai China by Barbara Klemm contemporary artwork photography

Barbara Klemm Shanghai, China, 1985 Gelatin silver print by the artist, printed later, framed with museum glass
40 x 30 cm
Galerie—Peter—Sillem EUR 3,570 Check Availability

Shanghai China by Barbara Klemm contemporary artwork photography

Barbara Klemm Shanghai, China, 1985 Gelatin silver print, printed later by the artist, framed with museum glass
30 x 40 cm
Galerie—Peter—Sillem EUR 3,570 Check Availability

Shanghai China by Barbara Klemm contemporary artwork photography

Barbara Klemm Shanghai, China, 1985 Gelatin silver print, printed later by the artist, framed with museum glass
30 x 40 cm
Galerie—Peter—Sillem EUR 3,570 Check Availability

Shanghai China by Barbara Klemm contemporary artwork photography

Barbara Klemm Shanghai, China, 1985 Gelatin silver print by the artist, printed later, framed with museum glass
30 x 40 cm
Galerie—Peter—Sillem EUR 3,570 Check Availability

Shanghai China by Barbara Klemm contemporary artwork photography

Barbara Klemm Shanghai, China, 1985 Gelatin silver print by the artist, printed later, framed with museum glass
40 x 30 cm
Galerie—Peter—Sillem EUR 3,570 Check Availability

Shanghai China by Barbara Klemm contemporary artwork photography

Barbara Klemm Shanghai, China, 1985 Gelatin silver print by the artist, printed later, framed with museum glass
30 x 40 cm
Galerie—Peter—Sillem EUR 3,570 Check Availability

Shanghai Peking China by Barbara Klemm contemporary artwork photography

Barbara Klemm Shanghai, Peking, China, 1985 Gelatin silver print, printed later by the artist, framed with museum glass
30 x 40 cm
Galerie—Peter—Sillem EUR 3,570 Check Availability

Strae bei Tianjin by Barbara Klemm contemporary artwork photography

Barbara Klemm Straße bei Tianjin, 1985 Gelatin silver print by the artist, printed later, framed with museum glass
30 x 40 cm
Galerie—Peter—Sillem EUR 3,570 Check Availability

Strae zu den Ming-Grabern by Barbara Klemm contemporary artwork photography

Barbara Klemm Straße zu den Ming-Gräbern, 1985 Gelatin silver print by the artist, printed later, framed with museum glass
30 x 40 cm
Galerie—Peter—Sillem EUR 3,570 Check Availability

Straenszene in Xian China by Barbara Klemm contemporary artwork photography

Barbara Klemm Straßenszene in Xian, China, 1985 Gelatin silver print by the artist, printed later, framed with museum glass
30 x 40 cm
Galerie—Peter—Sillem EUR 3,570 Check Availability

Teeplantage Hangzhou China by Barbara Klemm contemporary artwork photography

Barbara Klemm Teeplantage, Hangzhou, China, 1985 Gelatin silver print, printed later by the artist, framed with museum glass
30 x 40 cm
Galerie—Peter—Sillem EUR 3,570 Check Availability

Tiensin China by Barbara Klemm contemporary artwork photography

Barbara Klemm Tiensin, China, 1985 Gelatin silver print by the artist, printed later, framed with museum glass
30 x 40 cm
Galerie—Peter—Sillem EUR 3,570 Check Availability

Verbotene Stadt Kaiserpalast Peking China by Barbara Klemm contemporary artwork photography

Barbara Klemm Verbotene Stadt, Kaiserpalast, Peking, China, 1985 Gelatin silver print by the artist, printed later, framed with museum glass
30 x 40 cm
Galerie—Peter—Sillem EUR 3,570 Check Availability

VW-Werk Shanghai China by Barbara Klemm contemporary artwork photography

Barbara Klemm VW-Werk, Shanghai, China, 1985 Gelatin silver print by the artist, printed later, framed with museum glass
30 x 40 cm
Galerie—Peter—Sillem EUR 3,570 Check Availability

Xian China by Barbara Klemm contemporary artwork photography

Barbara Klemm Xian, China, 1985 Gelatin silver print by the artist, printed later, framed with museum glass
40 x 30 cm
Galerie—Peter—Sillem EUR 3,570 Check Availability

Xian China by Barbara Klemm contemporary artwork photography

Barbara Klemm Xian, China, 1985 Gelatin silver print by the artist, printed later, framed with museum glass
40 x 30 cm
Galerie—Peter—Sillem EUR 3,570 Check Availability

Loading...

About the Gallery

Founded in 2017 the Frankfurt-based Galerie—Peter—Sillem focuses on contemporary international photography, exhibiting both emerging and well-established artists from all around the globe. The gallery—a member of the Association of German Galleries and Fine Art Dealers (BVDG)—also performs an advisory role for private and corporate photography collections.

View Gallery Profile

Address

Dreieichstrasse 2
Frankfurt
Germany

Opening Hours

Wed, 10am - 4pm
Thurs, 10am - 6pm
Fri, 10am - 4pm
Sat, 2 - 4pm
And by appointment

GaleriePeterSillem contemporary art gallery in Frankfurt Germany

Galerie—Peter—Sillem

Dreieichstrasse 2, Frankfurt, Germany

+49 696 199 5550
http://www.galerie-peter-sillem.com

Opening hours

Wed, 10am - 4pm
Thurs, 10am - 6pm
Fri, 10am - 4pm
Sat, 2 - 4pm
And by appointment

Magazine Gallery Platform Advisory

A respected voice in contemporary art discourse.

Focusing on ambitious storytelling and insightful art-world commentary. Ocula Magazine publishes in-depth interviews, critical essays and timely analysis on the artists, exhibitions and ideas driving the global art world.

Learn more about Ocula Magazine

Learn more about Ocula Magazine

Ocula Gallery Platform

Showcasing the best of the art world.

Ocula partners with galleries from around the world to highlight their artists, artworks and exhibitions. Gallery membership is by application and invitation, with each member vetted by an independent panel.

Learn more about Ocula Membership

Learn more about Ocula Membership

Specialises in the sale of major artworks.

Led by a team with deep ties to the world’s leading auction houses, galleries and collectors. Ocula’s advisory team offers bespoke services to high-net-worth clients from around the world who are looking to acquire the best of contemporary and modern art.

Learn more about our team and services

Learn more about Ocula Advisory

The art world in focus