The long time as Chancellor has drained Angela Merkel's strength.
A photographer accompanied the CDU politician for years.
Berlin - After four legislative periods in the Chancellery, Angela Merkel resigns as head of government.
Over the years, the photographer and artist Herlinde Koelbl met regularly with the CDU politician.
The 82-year-old believes that the many years in office have left their mark on Merkel.
“You cannot be Chancellor for 16 years without paying tribute.
Being the chancellor of a country is the most stressful thing you can ever have.
You are responsible for a country, ”Koelbl explained to the
German press agency
.
And she should know, after all, the photo artist has had a close relationship with the current chancellor for decades.
Koelbl first portrayed the Christian Democrat in 1991, and she has taken Merkel's photographs almost every year to this day.
All the photographic portraits created during this period are in the illustrated book “Angela Merkel.
Portraits 1991-2021 ”, which will be published on November 19.
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The cover of the illustrated book “Herlinde Koelbl:“ Angela Merkel.
Portraits 1991-2021 ”.
© Taschen Verlag / dpa
"What has disappeared somewhat in recent years is the lively glow in the eyes, in the laughing eyes," Koelbl also recognized changes at Merkel.
“This liveliness is seldom seen again.
Their body language is also more withdrawn. "
Portraits of Chancellor Angela Merkel: Gerhard Schröder's predecessor in office was also photographed for years
The Chancellor is one of many politicians who were photographed by Koelbl over several years.
As part of the “Traces of Power” project, the artist portrayed and interviewed Merkel every year between 1991 and 1998, as well as her predecessor in the Chancellery, Gerhard Schröder.
Schröder's SPD party colleagues Renate Schmidt and Heide Simonis as well as the former Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer (Greens) were also captured in the picture.
“I finished the project in 1998,” said Koelbl.
However, when Merkel was elected first female chancellor in 2005, she changed her mind.
“I then wrote to her and asked if I could continue to accompany her.
She accepted without any major discussions. "
Although the interviews were now canceled, the annual photo session stayed.
On one condition: "I then promised her that I would not publish the new photos until she was no longer the incumbent Chancellor," said Koelbl, describing the basis for further collaboration with Merkel.
"I just wanted her to feel in safe hands."
(Kh / dpa)