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Reinhard Görner

German, b. 1950
Libraries are both shelters and places of escape. It is this feeling that German photographer Reinhard Görner has been exploring for many years, in search of the most beautiful and solemn reading rooms around the world. Intimate libraries nestled in the heart of secluded abbeys or grandiose halls of prestigious universities, for the German artist, these rooms are an inexhaustible reservoir of inspiration. Let yourself be transported through architectures, styles and eras in this portrait of Reinhard Görner, a self-taught artist with a multifaceted and contagious passion. As an architectural photographer, Reinhard worked for many years for architects before deciding to focus on his passion. His goal is to explore how the great masters of architecture have created spaces that breathe beauty and silence by playing with shadows, light, proportions, rhythms. He quickly discovered that libraries have always been and still are wonderful playgrounds for architects, allowing them to focus on the question of form and emptiness: "I see myself as an ambassador trying to convey the spirit of these builders with my photographic means". The artist photographed and fell in love with his first library in 2005, as he was working with architect Sir Norman Foster and captured the philological library of Berlin’s Frei Universität. Since then, the cathedral-like atmosphere of New York’s Rose main reading room made a long-lasting impact on the artist and he started to intensify his documentation of libraries across the world. Görner’s photographs seek to convey the impact architecture has on our awareness of life : the libraries he captures open spaces, tell stories and refer to a time when one’s sense of aestethics and sense of space were identical. Görner’s photos refer to the vastness great architecture has been celebrating throughout history, bringing to mind historical periods where beauty and tranquility meet. His work pays a tribute to the Becher art school. Like other disciples’ – Andreas Gursky, Thomas Ruff and Candida Höfer – Görner’s work is strictly conceptual, combined with a fine technical approach. All their works demonstrate the same fascination for typology and record the heritage of the western cultural and industrial past.
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$6,875
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Morgan Library II, New York, German Large Scale Architectural Photograph
Morgan Library II, New York, German Large Scale Architectural Photograph

Morgan Library II, New York, German Large Scale Architectural Photograph

By Reinhard Görner

Located in Los Angeles, CA

Morgan Library II New York signed and numbered on label, verso In Morgan Library II, Reinhard Görner captures the intimate grandeur of one of New York’s most exquisite interiors. B...

Category

2010s Conceptual Reinhard Görner

Materials

C Print, Lambda

Reinhard Görner, The Long Room IV, Trinity College Library, Dublin Ireland
Reinhard Görner, The Long Room IV, Trinity College Library, Dublin Ireland

Reinhard Görner, The Long Room IV, Trinity College Library, Dublin Ireland

By Reinhard Görner

Located in Los Angeles, CA

This large-scale architectural photograph by German artist Reinhard Görner depicts the The Long Room, an awe-inspiring vista into the Old Library at Trinity College in Dublin, Irelan...

Category

2010s Conceptual Reinhard Görner

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C Print, Lambda

Reinhard Görner 'Francke Foundations II' (Library, Halle, Germany)
Reinhard Görner 'Francke Foundations II' (Library, Halle, Germany)

Reinhard Görner 'Francke Foundations II' (Library, Halle, Germany)

By Reinhard Görner

Located in Los Angeles, CA

This large-scale architectural photograph by German photographer Reinhard Görner depicts the Francke Foundations library in Halle, Germany. Arches open like portals into the interior, bringing public cultural heritage into private space in the rich, aged tones of wood and marble, taupe, blue and gray. Reinhard Görner is known for invoking an atmosphere of awe, meditation and contemplation through crisp, richly detailed scenes of grand historical and cultural public narratives. This effect is enhanced through aesthetically striking compositions, which might include stunningly perfect (or interestingly-off) symmetry, portals through a series of doorways, and other careful choices of perspective and scale. Reinhard Görner Francke Foundations II Halle, Germany 2014 50 x 52.6 inches ed. of 10 $6,000 60 x 63.2 inches ed. of 7 $9,000 70 x 73.7 inches ed. of 5 $11,000 signed and numbered on label, verso Paper is trimmed to the image: actual image size listed Internal Search: Reinhard Görner, Library series, Halle, Germany, Large-Scale Photography, Large-scale German photography, German Libraries, German Monuments...

Category

2010s Conceptual Reinhard Görner

Materials

C Print, Lambda

The Long Room III, Trinity College Library, Dublin Ireland
The Long Room III, Trinity College Library, Dublin Ireland

The Long Room III, Trinity College Library, Dublin Ireland

By Reinhard Görner

Located in Los Angeles, CA

This large-scale architectural photograph by German artist Reinhard Görner depicts the The Long Room, an awe-inspiring vista into the Old Library at Trinity College in Dublin, Ireland. The vaulted ceiling arches above, while below a warm, golden light fills the room, illuminating bookshelves and cultural artifacts. The room is flanked by white marble busts of philosophers, writers, and great minds who have shaped the intellectual landscape of the Western world, adding a sense of gravitas and continuity to the space, and bringing public cultural heritage into private space in the rich, glowing tones of aged brown wood, leather and gilt. Reinhard Görner is known for invoking an atmosphere of awe, meditation and contemplation through crisp, richly detailed scenes of grand historical and cultural narratives. This effect is enhanced through aesthetically striking compositions, which might include stunning symmetry, portals through a series of doorways, and other careful choices of perspective and scale. Görner's photography celebrates libraries as both shelters and places of escape. This particular photograph is part of his quest to explore the most beautiful and solemn reading rooms around the world. Görner aims to convey how architects play with shadows, light, proportions, and rhythms to create spaces that breathe beauty and silence. Starting from his work with architect Sir Norman Foster in 2005, Görner has meticulously documented libraries' cathedral-like atmospheres across the globe. His photographs seek to convey the impact of architecture on our awareness of life, showcasing spaces that tell stories and refer to a time when aesthetics and spatial awareness were intertwined. Embrace the tranquility and beauty encapsulated in Görner's art and allow it to transport you to the grand arches and timeless serenity of The Long Room, Trinity College Library. Perfect for art collectors, architecture enthusiasts, and advocates of intellectual history, this piece serves as a gateway to explore the spirit of great builders through Görner's distinctive lens. Reinhard Görner The Long Room, Trinity College Library Dublin Ireland 50 x 62.5 inches Contemporary large scale photograph Signed and numbered on label, verso Edition of 10 Collector gets the next number in the edition Reinhard Görner, with his large format photographs orchestrates the monumentality of rooms. An active architecture photographer since 1985, is a master of perspectives and precise spatial compositions, and he thus considers classical sculpture, in all of its possible facets, a special challenge. "Görner’s photographs sometimes open the doors to another world and take the viewer with them on a journey through time. Here the palace is no longer a museum but both royal residence and a site steeped in history. The viewer does not have to share the halls with the masses of visitors; instead the images offer him exclusive impressions of the Galerie des Glaces (Hall of Mirrors) and the Galerie des Batailles (Hall of Battles) as even the king of France was probably never granted. The halls are empty of people, yet they seem to be able to unfurl their individual characters of their own accord. These places practically breathe history, and this aspect is also part of the essence captured in the photographs. King Wilhelm of Prussia was named German Emperor Wilhelm...

Category

2010s Conceptual Reinhard Görner

Materials

C Print, Lambda

Library Hall, Upper Lusatian Library of Sciences, Görlitz Germany, Architecture
Library Hall, Upper Lusatian Library of Sciences, Görlitz Germany, Architecture

Library Hall, Upper Lusatian Library of Sciences, Görlitz Germany, Architecture

By Reinhard Görner

Located in Los Angeles, CA

This large-scale architectural photograph by German artist Reinhard Görner depicts the Library Hall at the Upper Lusatian Library of Sciences in Görlitz, Germany. Arches open like portals into the interior, bringing public cultural heritage into private space in the rich, glowing tones of brown wood. Reinhard Görner is known for invoking an atmosphere of awe, meditation and contemplation through crisp, richly detailed scenes of grand historical and cultural public narratives. This effect is enhanced through aesthetically striking compositions, which might include stunningly perfect (or interestingly-off) symmetry, portals through a series of doorways, and other careful choices of perspective and scale. Housing about 150,000 volumes, this library is not only the largest in Görlitz, but also the most significant regional library between Dresden and Wrocław. Rich in history, it stands at the crossroads of Germany, Poland, and the Czech Republic, serving as a beacon for historical research and knowledge transfer in the region. Lit by a warm, timeless glow, the scene leads you through multiple carved archways...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Conceptual Reinhard Görner

Materials

Lambda

Library Hall, Upper Lusatian Library of Sciences, Görlitz

Library Hall, Upper Lusatian Library of Sciences, Görlitz

By Reinhard Görner

Located in Los Angeles, CA

50 x 54 inches ed. of 10 $6,000 60 x 64.7 inches ed. of 7 $9,000 70 x 75.5 inches ed. of 5 $11,000 signed and numbered on label, verso Reinhard Görner, with his large format phot...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Conceptual Reinhard Görner

Materials

Lambda

The Long Room IV, Trinity College Library, Dublin Ireland
The Long Room IV, Trinity College Library, Dublin Ireland

The Long Room IV, Trinity College Library, Dublin Ireland

By Reinhard Görner

Located in Los Angeles, CA

This large-scale architectural photograph by German artist Reinhard Görner depicts the The Long Room, an awe-inspiring vista into the Old Library at Trinity College in Dublin, Ireland. The vaulted ceiling arches above, while below a warm, golden light fills the room, illuminating bookshelves and cultural artifacts. The room is flanked by white marble busts of philosophers, writers, and great minds who have shaped the intellectual landscape of the Western world, adding a sense of gravitas and continuity to the space, and bringing public cultural heritage into private space in the rich, glowing tones of aged brown wood, leather and gilt. Reinhard Görner is known for invoking an atmosphere of awe, meditation and contemplation through crisp, richly detailed scenes of grand historical and cultural narratives. This effect is enhanced through aesthetically striking compositions, which might include stunning symmetry, portals through a series of doorways, and other careful choices of perspective and scale. Housing about 150,000 volumes, this library is not only the largest in Görlitz, but also the most significant regional library between Dresden and Wrocław. Rich in history, it stands at the crossroads of Germany, Poland, and the Czech Republic, serving as a beacon for historical research and knowledge transfer in the region. Lit by a warm, timeless glow, the scene leads you through multiple carved archways of antique wood, along well-trodden wooden floors, a testament to the intersection of history, knowledge, and architectural elegance. Established in 1779 by twenty representatives from Görlitz's educated bourgeoisie and enlightened nobility, this library is a symbol of the Enlightenment movement, focusing on human reason and research across all fields of study. Today, it's open to the public and widely regarded as one of the most spectacular libraries globally. Görner's photography celebrates libraries as both shelters and places of escape. This particular photograph is part of his quest to explore the most beautiful and solemn reading rooms around the world. Görner aims to convey how architects play with shadows, light, proportions, and rhythms to create spaces that breathe beauty and silence. Starting from his work with architect Sir Norman Foster in 2005, Görner has meticulously documented libraries' cathedral-like atmospheres across the globe. His photographs seek to convey the impact of architecture on our awareness of life, showcasing spaces that tell stories and refer to a time when aesthetics and spatial awareness were intertwined. Embrace the tranquility and beauty encapsulated in Görner's art and allow it to transport you to the grand arches and timeless serenity of The Long Room, Trinity College Library. Perfect for art collectors, architecture enthusiasts, and advocates of intellectual history, this piece serves as a gateway to explore the spirit of great builders through Görner's distinctive lens. 60 x 75 inches ed. of 7 $9,000 70 x 87.5 inches ed. of 5 $11,000 signed and numbered on label, verso Reinhard Görner, with his large format photographs orchestrates the monumentality of rooms. An active architecture photographer since 1985, is a master of perspectives and precise spatial compositions, and he thus considers classical sculpture, in all of its possible facets, a special challenge. "Görner’s photographs sometimes open the doors to another world and take the viewer with them on a journey through time. Here the palace is no longer a museum but both royal residence and a site steeped in history. The viewer does not have to share the halls with the masses of visitors; instead the images offer him exclusive impressions of the Galerie des Glaces (Hall of Mirrors) and the Galerie des Batailles (Hall of Battles) as even the king of France was probably never granted. The halls are empty of people, yet they seem to be able to unfurl their individual characters of their own accord. These places practically breathe history, and this aspect is also part of the essence captured in the photographs. King Wilhelm of Prussia was named German Emperor Wilhelm I in the Hall of Mirrors after France was defeated in 1870–1871 in the Franco-German War. The Treaty of Versailles following World War I was also signed there in 1919. In this sense, the architectural photographs of Versailles...

Category

2010s Conceptual Reinhard Görner

Materials

C Print, Lambda

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Reinhard Görner Sale Prices

Sold DateSold PriceCategoryMediumCreation Year
2026$6,000Figurative Photography, Portrait PhotographyLambda Print2008
2025$5,100Figurative Photography, Landscape PhotographyC Print, Lambda Print2017
2025$9,000Landscape Photography, Figurative PhotographyC Print, Lambda Print2017
2025$7,400Landscape Photography, Still-life PhotographyLambda Print2014
$6,875
Average sold price of items in the past 12 months
$5,100-$9,000
Sold price range of items in the past 12 months

Artists Similar to Reinhard Görner

Reinhard Görner art for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a wide variety of authentic Reinhard Görner art available for sale on 1stDibs. If you’re browsing the collection of art to introduce a pop of color in a neutral corner of your living room or bedroom, you can find work that includes elements of blue and other colors. You can also browse by medium to find art by Reinhard Görner in digital print, lambda print, laser print and more. Much of the original work by this artist or collective was created during the 21st century and contemporary and is mostly associated with the contemporary style. Not every interior allows for large Reinhard Görner art, so small editions measuring 40 inches across are available. Customers who are interested in this artist might also find the work of William Wegman, xulong zhang, and Joseph Beuys. Reinhard Görner art prices can differ depending upon medium, time period and other attributes. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $4,400 and tops out at $11,000, while the average work can sell for $9,000.