Renate und Roger Rössing

Did Renate ever imagine her life, intertwined with Roger’s, would end here at the Renate und Roger Rössing grave in Leipzig? Here lies a testament to their shared passion, a simple pyramid near a quiet pond in the Südfriedhof. Renate und Roger Rössing, the “camera twins of Leipzig,” left an indelible mark on East German photography. Their journey began at the Academy for Book and Graphic Artistry in Leipzig. Renate, scarred from the Dresden bombing, found solace in the lens. Roger, tasked with looking after the shy Renate, found a lifelong partner. They married in 1951, their lives and art becoming inseparable. Renate, often the more daring of the two, would climb onto rooftops for the perfect panorama. She framed their shots, while together they captured the essence of post-war Germany. From the rubble of Dresden to the bustling streets of Leipzig, Renate und Roger Rössing documented daily life. Their lens captured not just scenes, but emotions. They traveled extensively, documenting cities and landscapes in Romania, Bulgaria, Hungary, North Africa, and Central Asia. Over 90 books bear their shared name, a testament to their prolific career. They documented the changing face of Leipzig, from the 1950s to the fall of the Berlin Wall. Their work captured the spirit of a city questioning its future. They documented not just the decay, but also the enduring spirit of Leipzig. Renate meticulously managed their vast archive of over 100,000 negatives and slides. She was Roger’s first editor, his confidante in his explorations of riddles, Gottfried Silbermann, and even the darker corners of history. Renate und Roger Rössing, two artists united by a single vision. They became synonymous with quality, their work celebrated throughout Germany. They were known for their kindness, their intellectual curiosity, and their unwavering passion for their craft. Even in Renate’s illness, their spirit remained unbroken. Roger followed her a year later, their shared journey ending where it began, here in Leipzig. Their legacy continues, their images preserved in the SLUB Dresden and their spirit living on through the Rössing Foundation, which awards a biennial prize for art and local heritage in the Leipzig region.