Press Release

The Volker Hinz (1947 - 2019) photo archive comprises some 1.3 million photographs. Dr. Stefan Duhnkrack, Partner at Heuking Kühn Lüer Wojtek’s Hamburg office, represented and legally advised the photographer’s estate on the sale of the collection to the Bavarian State Library. The library is using this testimony to Germany’s photography to further expand its largest public picture archive in Germany.

Volker Hinz’s analog archive consists of black-and-white and color negatives, slides, and fine art prints. The Bavarian State Library is also taking over the photographer’s extensive photo library. It will preserve the archive permanently and make it accessible worldwide through gradual digitalization.

Volker Hinz was born in Hamburg-Blankenese in 1947. At the age of 24, he became head of photo agency “Sven Simon Bildagentur” in Bonn. In 1974, he joined weekly magazine stern in Hamburg. With a brief interruption, Volker Hinz worked for the magazine for 38 years, including eight in New York. His numerous photo reports for stern, in particular his highly regarded portraits of famous personalities, made him famous far beyond Germany. Today, many of his pictures are part of the collective memory of his time.

Featuring some 34.5 million media units, the Bavarian State Library is Germany’s largest universal academic library and one of the most important research libraries internationally. The library’s image archive comprises more than 18 million mainly documentary photographs with a focus on contemporary history.

Counsel to Volker Hinz estate
Heuking Kühn Lüer Wojtek:
Dr. Stefan Duhnkrack (Corporate/M&A), Hamburg

Kind regards

Marion Kortmann
Katharina Sassek (nee Langer)
Laura Gobiet
Communications & Marketing