https://www.ceeol.com/search/article-detail?id=1389127
https://doi.org/10.60056/Lit.2025.35.127–150
Katya Zografova
The text interprets a little-known children’s and youth book by the German artist, critic, and scenographer – “Monika on the Way to Madagascar.” It explores the interactions between text and photography, as well as the unusual combination of traditional illustrations by Hugo Wilkens and the original photographs by Max Metzger. Thus, Metzger’s multifaceted creative transformations are complemented by his unknown photographic talent. The book, published in Bulgaria in 1936, is the last sign of the presence of the German expressionist in the cultural scene of Bulgaria and at the same time, a definitive testament to his humane, anti-racist beliefs. The latter contributes a significant detail to the unclear biographical profile of Metzger, perceived (and publicly condemned) by his contemporaries as a sharp turn from cooperation in Geo Milev’s magazine “Flame” and Lamar’s magazine “Novis” towards the ideas of national socialism after his return to Hitler’s Germany.
Keywords: interactions of words – photos, biographic profole, anti-rasist believes
About the author: Katia Zografova is a literary critic and historian, documentarian, and essayist. She was born in Panagyurishte. She graduated in Bulgarian Philology at Plovdiv University “Paisii Hilendarski.” For 35 years, she has worked at the National Literary Museum as a chief curator, and from 2010 to 2016, she was its director. She is the author of 20 books, including “The Multifaceted Bulgarian Woman,” 2001, “Playing with the Storms: Elisaveta Bagrjana,” 2013, “Famous. Forgotten. Forbidden,” 2015, “The Worlds of Yavorov,” 2017, “Chronicles of the Vazov Family,” 2020, “Notable Women of/for Bulgaria (From Kera Tamara to Petya Dubarova),” 2021, “Fani Popova-Mutafova: Life and Suffering,” 2022. She is the editor of volume 5 “From Leipzig to Brunate” of “Pencho Slaveikov: Works,” 2025. She is deeply interested in the achievements of the “multifaceted Bulgarian woman” in culture, public and social life; the revival of forgotten and politically repressed authors; dialogue between Bulgarian and European literatures; and the dialogues and syntheses of the arts… For the past 7 years, she has been a storyteller in “Literary Routes” organized by the Foundation “Read Sofia” and makes intriguing literary walks.
She is a member of the Union of Bulgarian Writers. Her works have been translated into English, Russian, French, Italian, and Greek. She is the recipient of national literary awards such as the “Blaga Dimitrova” and “Nesho Bonchev” prizes, the “Most Read Author of Biographical Books” award from the Sofia City Library, and the international Golden Coin “Writing” award.
