Black and white photograph of a woman at a newspaper stand

BARBARA PFLAUM

Showcases of Everyday Life

Barbara Pflaum (1912–2002) was one of the few women who worked as photojournalists for pictorial magazines in the 1950s.

15.4.2026—16.8.2026

MAK Works on Paper Room

Men dominated this profession in the first two postwar decades, while women in Europe and the United States returned to domestic life. This was not the case for Pflaum, who came across photography at the University of Applied Arts Vienna, where she had taken up studies as a 40-year-old divorcée with three children.

Her photographs garnered the attention of several people. In 1954 she published her first reports—about Venice and about an experimental school in Sweden—in the Wiener Illustrierte newspaper. A short time later, she was hired as a photographer for the Wochenpresse weekly, where she worked for over 20 years. She and her classic Rolleiflex medium format camera could be found at most theater and opera openings, vernissages, and most of all at political events.

Small child near the Temple of Theseus, with a statue in the background

A smiling woman is selling something on the street; behind her is a price tag for wine

A young woman holds up a protest sign: “Thou shalt not kill”

Side view of three young men, one holdin a bottle

A person is carrying a box up the stairs, while another person is walking down

A boy in a classroom looks at the camera

Wall in the exhibition featuring photographs by Barbara Pflaum

Wall in exhibition featuring photos by Barbara Pflaum and her camera

Her portraits of heads of state, party leaders, and famous artists often adorned the cover pages of the weekly magazine. As the proud photographer of these images, she showed them in exhibitions throughout her life. The presentation at the MAK will show a different, less well-known side of her work—one that nowadays especially has the capacity to delight.

Between vernissages, conferences, and premieres, Barbara Pflaum tirelessly roamed the streets of Vienna and observed its inhabitants. Situational photographs and masterful portraits not only bring to light her extraordinary powers of observation, her sense of humor, and her phenomenal flair for form, but also reveal an encompassing social sensibility. Taken for herself, in passing—these photographs are the subject of the exhibition.

Some found their way into a Vienna photo book published by Pflaum in 1961, but many have never been released. The images show the city’s inhabitants going about their daily lives, as well as street protests, condemned neighborhoods, and scenes from the annual Christmas markets.

Guest Curator: Karolina Ziębińska

Media

Barbara Pflaum, Passers-by standing in front of the shop window of an electrical goods store displaying a television, Vienna, ca. 1960 Gelatin silver print © APA-Images / brandstaetter images / Barbara Pflaum

Barbara Pflaum, Child at play in front of the Theseus Temple in the Volksgarten, Vienna, ca. 1960 Gelatin silver print © APA-Images / brandstaetter images / Barbara Pflaum

Barbara Pflaum, “By no means a place of vice, rather a refuge for insomniacs and night workers: the small night café Schwarzenberg,” 1961 Gelatin silver print © APA-Images / brandstaetter images / Barbara Pflaum

Barbara Pflaum, School for children with behavioral difficulties, Sweden, 1954 Gelatin silver print © APA-Images / brandstaetter images / Barbara Pflaum

Sweet chestnut vendor on a Viennese market, 1970 Gelatin silver print © APA-Images / brandstaetter images / Barbara Pflaum

Barbara Pflaum, Anti-Vietnam War demonstration as part of the May 1st rally on the Ringstraße, Vienna, 1970 Gelatin silver print © APA-Images / brandstaetter images / Barbara Pflaum

Barbara Pflaum, Foreigners, Vienna, 1959 Gelatin silver print © APA-Images / brandstaetter images / Barbara Pflaum

Barbara Pflaum, “Furniture transport,” Vienna, ca. 1960 Gelatin silver print © APA-Images / brandstaetter images / Barbara Pflaum

Barbara Pflaum, School for children with behavioral difficulties, Sweden, 1954 Gelatin silver print © APA-Images / brandstaetter images / Barbara Pflaum