The Karl Max Kessler Photo Archive preserves and explores the photographic estate of Karl Max Kessler, who documented the nature and culture of the Kleinwalsertal in the first half of the 20th century.
For almost sixty years, Karl Max Kessler photographed life in the Kleinwalsertal. He created thousands of negatives – of people, landscapes and traditions that have long since disappeared. For decades these images lay forgotten in boxes.
His grandchildren Bettina and Mathias Kessler rediscovered the archive in a badly damaged state – and resolved to save it. In 2021 they founded an association to restore, digitise and preserve the photographs for generations to come.
The images tell the story of the Kleinwalsertal’s transformation: from a rural farming community into a popular skiing and tourism region. They show everyday life, work and celebrations – and reveal how the landscape became an economic resource.
Today, our work is not only about preserving these images. Together with the people of the valley, we want to read them anew, place them in context and keep retelling their stories. In this way, memories stay alive – and become part of the cultural memory of the Kleinwalsertal.