Artist Index: Chaldej, Jewgeni

Berlin, May 2, 1945. Printed 1990s. Gelatin silver print. 29,8 x 39,5 cm. Signed by the photographer in marker on the verso.

Jewgeni Chaldej, a Soviet photojournalist, is renowned for his photographs documenting the capture of Berlin by Soviet troops on May 2, 1945, marking the end of World War II in Europe. His images, particularly the iconic scene of the Soviet flag being raised on the Reichstag building, have become crucial visual records of this historic moment. – Some buckling, some handling marks, fold mark in right edge, otherwise in good condition.

Lit.: Ernst Volland/Heinz Krimmer (eds.). Von Moskau nach Berlin. Bilder des russischen Fotografen Jewgeni Chaldej. Berlin 1999, ill. p. 81.

"Atop the Berlin Reichstag, May 2, 1945". 1945/printed later. Gelatin silver print. 30,5 x 41 cm. Signed by the photographer in pencil on the verso.

An interesting document, which Chaldej himself commented on: "Early in the morning on May 2, 1945, I entered it (the Reichstag). I was surrounded by horrendous noise, Russians and Germans were all shouting in horrible confusion ... A pleasant young soldier came up to me. I had a red flag in my hand. He said, 'Lieutenant, davai, let's hurry up and climb onto the roof with the flag' ... We started out, but all the stairs were badly damaged. When we finally got up the Reichstag was on fire. ...We found a long pole. I spent lots of time trying out different compositions. I took one picture from the left, but that wasn't any good. I wanted Berlin to be clearly visible in the picture. Then I said, 'Boys, go and stand over there and raise the flag ... then try over there'. There were three of them. One was from the Ukraine, the other from Machatshkala in Dagestan and the third was a Russian. ... I shot a whole roll of film, 36 shots." (cited in Volland/Krimmer, p. 151). – In excellent condition.

Lit.: Ernst Volland/Heinz Krimmer (eds.). Von Moskau nach Berlin. Bilder des russischen Fotografen Jewgeni Chaldej. Berlin 1999, ill. p. 65.

"Sevastopol, May 1944". Printed 1990s. Gelatin silver print. 30 x 40 cm. Signed by the photographer in pencil on the verso.

Some nicks in edges, especially right edge, some handling marks, otherwise in very good condition.

Lit.: Ernst Volland/Heinz Krimmer (eds.). Von Moskau nach Berlin. Bilder des russischen Fotografen Jewgeni Chaldej. Berlin 1999, ill. pp. 34-35.

"Atop the Berlin Reichstag, May 2, 1945". 1945/printed later. Gelatin silver print. 30,3 x 39,5 cm. Signed by the photographer in pencil on the verso.

An interesting document, which Chaldej himself commented on: "Early in the morning on May 2, 1945, I entered it (the Reichstag). I was surrounded by horrendous noise, Russians and Germans were all shouting in horrible confusion ... A pleasant young soldier came up to me. I had a red flag in my hand. He said, 'Lieutenant, davai, let's hurry up and climb onto the roof with the flag' ... We started out, but all the stairs were badly damaged. When we finally got up the Reichstag was on fire. ...We found a long pole. I spent lots of time trying out different compositions. I took one picture from the left, but that wasn't any good. I wanted Berlin to be clearly visible in the picture. Then I said, 'Boys, go and stand over there and raise the flag ... then try over there'. There were three of them. One was from the Ukraine, the other from Machatshkala in Dagestan and the third was a Russian. ... I shot a whole roll of film, 36 shots." (cited in Volland/Krimmer, p. 151). – In excellent condition.

Lit.: Ernst Volland/Heinz Krimmer (eds.). Von Moskau nach Berlin. Bilder des russischen Fotografen Jewgeni Chaldej. Berlin 1999, ill. p. 65.

Tempelhof Airport, Berlin. April 1945/printed 1980s. Matte gelatin silver print. 37,7 x 27,2 cm. Signed by the photographer in pencil on the verso.
Ernst Volland/Heinz Krimmer (eds.). Von Moskau nach Berlin. Bilder des russischen Fotografen Jewgeni Chaldej. Berlin 1999, ill. p. 71.Traces of previous mounting on the verso, some handling marks/creases, slight toning in left edge, otherwise in good condition.

"Atop the Berlin Reichstag, May 2, 1945". 1945/printed 1949. Ferrotyped gelatin silver press print. 17,7 x 13 cm. Typed German press text, archive stamp and annotated in ink on the verso.

An additional and rare image which varies from the five other known images from this series. – Stronger traces of use, especially in corners, backed tear in upper edge.

Lit.: Ernst Volland/Heinz Krimmer (eds.). Von Moskau nach Berlin. Bilder des russischen Fotografen Jewgeni Chaldej. Berlin 1999, ill. p. 66-67 (variants).

Unfinished Karl Marx monument in the studio of the sculptor Lev Kerbel. Before 1971/printed 1980s. Gelatin silver print. 39,9 x 29,5 cm. Signed by the photographer in pencil on the verso.

Left edge torn, some handling creases, otherwise in good condition.

"Russian soldiers marching towards Vienna". 1944/printed 1990s. Gelatin silver print. 29,5 x 39 cm. Signed by the photographer in black crayon lower right.

Crease in lower right in margin, a few small retouched spots, otherwise in very good condition.

Lit.: Ernst Volland/Heinz Krimmer (eds.). Von Moskau nach Berlin. Bilder des russischen Fotografen Jewgeni Chaldej. Berlin 1999, ill. p. 44.

"Russian Traffic Officer, Küstrin". April 1945/printed 1980s. Gelatin silver print. 28,6 x 38,6 cm. Signed by the photographer in silver marker upper left.

Slight buckling, a few retouched spots, otherwise in very good condition.

Lit.: Ernst Volland/Heinz Krimmer (eds.). Von Moskau nach Berlin. Bilder des russischen Fotografen Jewgeni Chaldej. Berlin 1999, ill. p. 54.

"Budapest, January 1945". Printed later. Gelatin silver print. 31 x 40,4 cm. Signed by the photographer in crayon on the verso.

Corners slightly bumped, some pressure marks, slight soliing in upper margin, otherwise in good condition.

Lit.: Ernst Volland/Heinz Krimmer (eds.). Von Moskau nach Berlin. Bilder des russischen Fotografen Jewgeni Chaldej. Berlin 1999, ill. p. 39.

"Atop the Berlin Reichstag, May 2, 1945". 1945/printed later. 3 ferrotyped gelatin silver prints. 30,5 x 24 cm. 2 signed by the photographer and 1 annotated in pencil on the verso.

Interesting documents, which Chaldej himself commented on: "Early in the morning on May 2, 1945, I entered it (the Reichstag). I was surrounded by horrendous noise, Russians and Germans were all shouting in horrible confusion ... A pleasant young soldier came up to me. I had a red flag in my hand. He said, 'Lieutenant, davai, let's hurry up and climb onto the roof with the flag' ... We started out, but all the stairs were badly damaged. When we finally got up the Reichstag was on fire. ...We found a long pole. I spent lots of time trying out different compositions. I took one picture from the left, but that wasn't any good. I wanted Berlin to be clearly visible in the picture. Then I said, 'Boys, go and stand over there and raise the flag ... then try over there'. There were three of them. One was from the Ukraine, the other from Machatshkala in Dagestan and the third was a Russian. ... I shot a whole roll of film, 36 shots" (cited in Volland/Krimmer, p. 151). In these three shots one can see the action being staged, and the two watches on the wrists of the one soldier have not been retouched out, as they were for most later publications. – Some handling creases, corners slightly bumped, otherwise in good condition.

Lit.: Ernst Volland/Heinz Krimmer (eds.). Von Moskau nach Berlin. Bilder des russischen Fotografen Jewgeni Chaldej. Berlin 1999, ill. p. 67.

Berlin, May 2, 1945: The poet Yevgeni Dolmatovski speaking to the troops. 1945/printed early 1990s. Gelatin silver print. 27,5 x 41 cm. Signed by the photographer in pencil on the verso, hinge-mounted in mat.



Literatur: Ernst Volland/Heinz Krimmer (eds.). Von Moskau nach Berlin. Bilder des russischen Fotografen Jewgeni Chaldej. Berlin 1999, ill. pp. 73.

"Yascha the Reindeer, September 1941". Printed later. Gelatin silver print. 30 x 40,3 cm. Signed by the photographer in pencil on the verso.



Literatur: Ernst Volland/Heinz Krimmer (eds.). Jewgeni Chaldej. Der bedeutende Augenblick, Leipzig 2008, ill. pp. 48-49.

"Atop the Berlin Reichstag, May 2, 1945". 1945/printed later. Ferrotyped gelatin silver print. 30 x 20 cm. Signed by the photographer in pencil on the verso.

This image is part of a series, which Chaldej himself commented on: "Early in the morning on May 2, 1945, I entered it (the Reichstag). I was surrounded by horrendous noise, Russians and Germans were all shouting in horrible confusion ... A pleasant young soldier came up to me. I had a red flag in my hand. He said, 'Lieutenant, davai, let's hurry up and climb onto the roof with the flag' ... I shot a whole roll of film, 36 shots" (cited in Volland/Krimmer, p. 151). This image is unretouched, still showing the one officer wearing two wristwatches. – Some handling creases, stronger crease in upper right, corners slightly bumped, otherwise in good condition.

Lit.: Ernst Volland/Heinz Krimmer (eds.). Von Moskau nach Berlin. Bilder des russischen Fotografen Jewgeni Chaldej. Berlin 1999, ill. p. 67.

"Budapest, January 1945". Printed later. Gelatin silver print. 29,7 x 39,8 cm. Signed, titled and dated by the photographer in pencil on the verso.

Several small indentation points, corners slightly bumped, otherwise in good condition.

Lit.: Ernst Volland/Heinz Krimmer (eds.). Von Moskau nach Berlin. Bilder des russischen Fotografen Jewgeni Chaldej. Berlin 1999, ill. p. 39.