1890

Born in Apola/Thüringen, Germany.

Studies art history and literature at universities in Leipzig, Berlin, Basel and München.

1918

Assists art historian Heinrich Wolfflin, and becomes an art critic and historian of photography and film. Beginning in 1919 he works at the Cicerone and Kunstblatt publications.

1927- 1933

Through his writing, Roh gains prominence in the avant-garde circles, becoming close to a number of the artists including Moholy-Nagy. Moholy-Nagy encourages Roh to pursue photography. Influenced by his associates, he produces many experimental works, including negative prints. During this period, he continues to write. In 1929 he co-edits Foto-Auge (Photo-Eye), a critical record of the “Film und Foto” exhibition. The progressive stance of the writing in Foto- Auge leads the government censors to briefly imprison Roh and forbids him from writing.

1946- 1965

Roh begins teaching modern art history at the University of München in 1946. In 1951 he becomes the first president of Germany’s International Association of Art Critics. Several years later, he founds the Society of Friends of Modern Art.

1965

Roh dies in München, Germany.