Willi Moegle – Arzberg porcelain factory, around 1960

This oversized photograph captures the hands of a craftsman cutting the porcelain cake during the production process at the Arzberg porcelain factory in the 1960s. Through the interplay of light and shadow, Willi Moegle (1897–1989) highlights the precision and artistry inherent in industrial craftsmanship. The print was presented in 1968 to Emil Geissenhoehner, a long-time director at Arzberg, on the occasion of his retirement. It comes from the estate of Emil Geissenhoehner. Original gelatin-silver print on Agfa Lupex paper. Framed under glass. Moegle is one of the major figures in post-war German object photography, recognised for his clarity, precision, and understated composition. His photographs for Arzberg, Jenaer Glas, Schönwald, and C. H. Pott helped define the modern visual identity of German design. In 1978, he received the David Octavius Hill medal for his outstanding contribution to photography.