The Cleveland Museum of Art

Collection Online as of December 19, 2025

Amalia Coal Mine, Essen

1961

René Burri

(Swiss, 1933–2014)
Switzerland
gelatin silver print
Image: 17.4 x 26.7 cm (6 7/8 x 10 1/2 in.); Paper: 27.8 x 35.3 cm (10 15/16 x 13 7/8 in.)
Gift of Joan Liftin 2021.149
Location: Not on view

Did You Know?

In 1961, the Amalia mine was part of Germany’s past prosperity and its postwar recovery.

Description

In Amalia Coal Mine, Essen, Swiss photographer René Burri conveys the arduous, hazardous nature of this ancient profession. This mine, which began operation in 1850, became part of the Krupp Group in 1927, joining a conglomerate whose industries included armaments factories that supplied German armies in both World Wars. Just five years after Burri took this picture, the mine was closed.
  • 1961–64
    René Burri (the artist) [1933-2014], Zürich, Switzerland, given to Charles Harbutt [1935-2015], New York, NY
    1964-2015
    Charles Harbutt [1935-2015], New York, NY, by descent to Joan Liftin, New York, NY
    2015–21
    Joan Liftin, New York, NY, given to The Cleveland Museum of Art
    September 13, 2021-
    The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH
  • {{cite web|title=Amalia Coal Mine, Essen|url=false|author=René Burri|year=1961|access-date=19 December 2025|publisher=Cleveland Museum of Art}}

Source URL:

https://www.clevelandart.org/art/2021.149