Photographs spanning seven decades
The photographic exhibition “Chancellors in Focus – From Adenauer to Merz” explores the special relationship between the Federal Chancellor and members of the media – from the early days of the Federal Republic to the present day. The photographs were taken by the Federal Government’s official photographers, who have accompanied the Federal Chancellors on their engagements at home and abroad since the Federal Republic’s inception.
Image gallery
Bundeskanzler Konrad Adenauer bereitet sich im Palais Schaumburg auf eine Rundfunk- und Fernsehansprache anlässlich seiner Kandidatur zum Bundespräsidenten vor
Bundeskanzler Helmut Schmidt (Mitte) vor einem Fernsehinterview mit dem Journalisten Ulrich Wickert (r.) anlässlich der deutsch-französischen Konsultationen
Helmut Kohl (winkend) mit seiner Frau Hannelore und den Söhnen Walter und Peter nach der Wahl zum Bundeskanzler in der Lobby des Deutschen Bundestages
This close proximity repeatedly captures exclusive moments of everyday political life. The result is a panorama of German post-war history from a unique perspective: politics is revealed not merely as a sequence of historical events, but as a public phenomenon that is always shaped and conveyed by the media.
Visitors are invited to view the photographs from two perspectives: what do they reveal about the respective Federal Chancellor – and what do they reveal about the era in which they were taken?
The exhibition goes beyond mere official photography: it also captures a chancellor’s glance at the photographers before a meeting with a state guest, the throng of photographers, conversations with media representatives on the government aircraft, press conferences during the COVID-19 pandemic, or a joint, impromptu bus journey with Angela Merkel.
The photographs taken by the Federal Government’s official photographers not only document political events and historic moments, but also reveal the people behind the offices: encounters, conversations, tension and concentration – and the special situations that arise away from the main political stage.
‘Chancellors in Focus – From Adenauer to Merz’ spans more than seven decades of German political and media history. It reveals how political communication, media coverage and visual language have changed over time. The exhibition invites visitors to view well-known figures and historical events from a new perspective: up close with the chancellors, up close with the workings of government, and at the same time through the unique lens of those who have documented them photographically over the decades.
“Chancellors in Focus – From Adenauer to Merz”
- 2 to 30 October 2026
- Mon–Fri 8 am–6 pm Berlin / Free admission
- Visitor Centre of the Federal Government Press and Information Office (Friedrichstrasse S and U-Bahn station), Reichstagufer 14, 10117 Berlin
Additional information
Guided tours of the exhibition will take place on 8, 15, 22 and 29 October 2026, at 4 pm on each date. No booking is required.
Dates
October 2026
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