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Lotte Reiniger
Reiniger, Charlotte (Birth name)
screenwriter, Animated Filmmaker, director
* 02.06.1899
† 19.06.1981
Lotte Reiniger established the silhouette paper cut as a cinematic technique. In Berlin in 1919, Reiniger co-founded the Institut für Kulturforschung, Hans Cürlis. Her film ‘Die Abenteuer des Prinzen Achmed’ (GER, 1926) was the very first feature-length animated film. In 1935 she moved to London, while maintaining contact to artists in Rome and Paris. After finally settling in London in 1949, Reiniger continued her work as an animation filmmaker for the BBC and others.
About the Estate
Finding Aid (PDF)In an NDR 3 interview in 1982, Lotte Reiniger gave an account looking back over the path that brought her to film. At first she was merely a youthful fan: She cut out silhouette images of the actors she idolized in their respective roles so that she could deliver them in person and use them as a way to establish contact. One of the recipients was actor and director Paul Wegener, who she also saw give a lecture on film as art. “Ich war unverschämt wie sonst was, ich plagte ihn zu Tode.” (I was impertinent as I could be; I tormented him to death.) He gave Reiniger her first job in film. Reiniger designed the title silhouettes for two films he directed, ‘Rübezahls Hochzeit (GER, 1916)’ and ‘Der Rattenfänger’ (GER, 1918), which allowed her to discover a new cinematic art form that she made her own.
Reiniger’s extraordinary talent for (animated) silhouettes, to which countless films she made belong, can be traced in the archive at the Deutsche Kinemathek. Among the holdings acquired in 1976 are numerous contour drawings, graphics and poster designs, which are impressive especially because of their richness of detail. A cinematic perspective can be discerned from them: the figures represented are predominantly shown in movement. To the viewer it seems as though they might start to move at any moment. Reiniger’s motifs are expressive and enchanting at the same time.
This set of holdings are enhanced by individual records in the Personal Papers and Company Archives at the Deutsche Kinemathek, two letters, and the silhouette cutout of one of the most famous characters in the history of cinema: Cesare from ‘Das Cabinet des Dr. Caligari’ (GER, 1920, directed by Robert Wiene). Reiniger could also be scary when she wanted to be. (Text: Annika Haupts)
- Content
- Hand drawing, Paper documents
- Description
- Approximate 0.05 Shelf metres
- Inv. No.
- 198040
- Credit Line
- Lotte-Reiniger-Archiv, Deutsche Kinemathek
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Die Abenteuer des Prinzen Achmed (D 1923-26, Regie: Lotte Reiniger), Scherenschnitt, Lotte Reiniger
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Stadtsilhouette mit Gnom, Scherenschnitt, Lotte Reiniger
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Carneval in Vendig, Handzeichnung, Lotte Reiniger, 1949
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Miniaturen, Scherenschnitt, Lotte Reiniger, 1918
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Amor und das standhafte Liebespaar, Amor und das standhafte Liebespaar (DE 1920, Regie: Lotte Reiniger), Plakat (Entwurf), Lotte Reiniger, 1920
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Brouette in Potsdam, Das rollende Rad. Ein Film von Wagen und Straßen (D 1934, Regie: Lotte Reiniger), Scherenschnitt
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Finale am Themseufer, Der Graf von Carabas (DE 1934, Regie: Lotte Reiniger), Scherenschnitt, Lotte Reiniger, 1935
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The Little Chimney Sweep (IT 1955, Regie: Vivian Milroy), Scherenschnitt
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Höhle des Zauberers, Das gestohlene Herz (D 1934, Regie: Lotte Reiniger), Scherenschnitt
Verwandte Personenarchive
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Ilse Fehling
1896–1982
Photography, Hand drawing, Small object, Paper documents
Archive Preview -
Hans Cürlis
1889–1982
Script, Print, Film, Photography, Paper documents
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Visit the Archive
More informationYou can use our collections for scholarly work, curatorial and publication research, or personal interest at no cost. Please get in touch with us in advance to schedule your visit. We look forward to welcoming you to our reading room.
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Get in touch
- for research
- for image use
- to schedule a visit to our reading room
- for all other questions, suggestions, and requests
Christiane Grün
+49 30 300903-45
cgruen@deutsche-kinemathek.deGunnar Gutschmidt
+49 30 300903-45
ggutschmidt@deutsche-kinemathek.de