MYSTERY SOLVED: The Mystery of Hugo Gellert and an unidentified man, circa 1950

Black and white photograph of two men in a gallery. The man on the right, who is slightly taller (unidentified man), has his arms around the shoulder of the man on the left (Hugo Gellert). Both men are wearing suits and ties, and Gellert is wearing glasses and has a mustache. They are standing next to a panel with three artworks. The piece closest to them (most visible) is a charcoal line drawing of a woman sitting in a windowsill with curtains sweeping around her.
Hugo Gellert and an unidentified man, circa 1950. G.D. Hackett, photographer. Hugo Gellert papers. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.

The Mystery:

Where: An exhibit of Geller's works

When: circa 1950

Who: Illustrator and muralist Hugo Gellert (on left) and unidentified man (on right)

Help us solve the mystery: Who is the unidentified man with Gellert? Where and when exactly was this photo taken?

The Solution:

Hugo Gellert and Gyula (Julius) Zilzer, 1960. G.D. Hackett, photographer. Hugo Gellert papers.

Where: A joint exhibit of Gellert and Zilzer's works

When: 1960

Who: Illustrator and muralist Hugo Gellert (on left) and Gyula (Julius) Zilzer (on right). G.D. Hackett is the photographer.

This solution was provided by Sander Feinberg, a scholar who is currently writing a book about Hugo Gellert.

How to Get In Touch:

If you have leads, clues, or ideas of who the unknown individuals may be , email us at AAAMysteries@si.edu. Your email should include:

  1. Your first and last name
  2. Your organization, if applicable
  3. Your preferred mode of contact, should we need to reach you (e.g. email address or phone number)
  4. The photo name (for which you are identifying the unknown individual)
  5. The name of the individual you believe is the unidentifiable figure in the photo or any information you may have that could help us identify the individual
  6. Your level of certainty in the information you provided

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