With the passing of René Groebli, we have lost one of the great pioneers of Swiss photography.
He had set his sights on turning 100. He had already sent out invitations to friends for the celebration on October 9, 2027, though with the note: “The artist may or may not be present.”
But René passed away on May 5, 2026. His loss leaves a painful void not only in the world of photography, but also in our hearts. René was not only a master of his craft, but also a loyal friend whose hospitality and zest for life always impressed us. Until his final days, he remained active and curious about the world he so impressively captured with his camera.
Born in Zurich in 1927, the photographer influenced generations of visual artists with his unwavering curiosity, his sense of movement, and his poetic visual language. He passed away at the age of 98. He leaves behind a body of work that resonates far beyond the borders of Switzerland.
Groebli gained international recognition in the 1950s when he broke new ground between documentary observation and emotional image composition with his series “The Magic of the Rail” (1949) and “The Eye of Love” (1954). In “The Magic of the Rail,” he combined technical precision and visual dynamism into a tribute to speed, steam, and motion—a photographic symphony to the age of the railroad.
“The Eye of Love,” an intimate series about his newlywed wife, revealed the tender, sensual side of his work and is still regarded today as a seminal work of subjective photography in Europe.
“The Eye of Love,” an intimate series about his newlywed wife, revealed the tender, sensual side of his work and is still regarded today as a seminal work of subjective photography in Europe.
In the decades that followed, Groebli turned increasingly to color photography and experimental image composition. His series “The Colour of Time,” “London,” and “Variation” bear witness to an unbroken spirit of exploration—visually daring, formally rigorous, and yet always imbued with a quiet melancholy. In doing so, he understood how to treat light not merely as a medium, but as a subject in its own right.
Until his advanced age, René Groebli remained a seeker, a perfectionist, and at the same time a humanistic observer. He was one of the last living representatives of that generation that redefined photography as an art form—beyond reportage and commerce. His works are now on view in major museums and collections worldwide, and his influence is evident in many younger Swiss photographers.
With his camera, René Groebli did not merely see—he felt. His work stands as a silent testament to how light and time can become poetry. He will continue to inspire us, and his images tell stories of a deep connection to the world and to people.
As a friend and artist, René greatly enriched our lives. In quiet remembrance, we now bid farewell to an extraordinary person and artist.
Thank you and farewell, René
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