René Groebli

Peter Fetterman Gallery, Santa Monica, CA

London #638. 1949
Illustrated. Rene Groebli. London 1949, Sturm and Drang Publishers, Zurich 2016

"A few days before Christmas I arrived at Victoria Station in fog -bound, bombed out London and spent two weeks wondering around the city with my camera". - Rene Groebli

Rene Groebli is one of the great Swiss Photographers. I had always been a great admirer of his “Eye of Love” Book the tender story of his honeymoon with his wife Rita in a tiny, 2 star hotel in Paris. I had been trying to make contact with him unsuccessfully for years when to my surprise and joy he came into my booth at Paris Photo a few years ago and we hit it off.

Rene is ageless and at 94 years old still a spirited force and wears bright red sneakers. What is not as well know is that he did a poetic group of images in London in 1949. This is my favorite. I love walking Westminster Bridge when ever I am back in London and it brings back memories of growing up in an era of often fog filled days.
The image is about shapes and movement and atmosphere. Movement is second nature to Rene and to many of the great photographers I have had the pleasure to collaborate with.