Freud: his life in pictures

He was an archaeologist of the human condition. That's one way of describing Sigmund Freud. For a little insight into his more than extraordinary life, we go on a journey through time – in pictures.

A life wreathed in countless myths, great achievements, and visionary findings. Freud's work, as well as his life, has already discussed in a plethora of books, articles and publications. His biographies frequently differ from each other, but ultimately agree on the fact that he thought nothing of them himself.

"But the biographers should rack their brains; we don't want to make things too easy for them. Each aims to right with his views on the 'development of the hero', so it pleases me how wrong they are," says Freud in a letter to his wife, Martha Bernays.

Come with us on a short journey through time through the life of the world-famous Viennese psychoanalyst.

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13 pictures

Sigmund Freud with his father, Jacob Freud (around 1864), who was already 41 years old at the birth of his son. – © Sigmund Freud Copyrights

Sigmund Freud aged 16 years with his mother, Amalia Freud. He later said of her: 'When you have been your mother's undisputed darling, you retain for life that feeling of conquest, that confidence of success, which often leads to real success.' – © Sigmund Freud Copyrights

Sigmund Freud and Martha Bernays on their engagement (1882). – © Sigmund Freud Copyrights

Martha Freud 1884 — Martha Bernays (1884): From their engagement in 1882, another four years would pass before the young couple finally got married in 1886. – © Sigmund Freud Copyrights

The Parisian physician Jean Martin Charcot at a presentation of a woman with hysteria, exhibited in the Salon of 1887. Freud met Charcot on a study trip to Paris. He obtained initial insights and findings in the areas of hysteria, hypnosis and suggestion from him. – © Sigmund Freud Museum/Foto von Gemälde

Sigmund Freud (1891) — In 1891, Freud moves with his family to the famous address Berggasse 19 in the 9th Viennese district, where he would practice and live until fleeing from the National Socialists in 1938. The Sigmund Freud Museum is located there today. – © Sigmund Freud Copyrights

Sigmund Freud with family and Aunt Minna (around 1898) — Sigmund Freud with family and Minna (around 1898): Martha's younger sister, Minna, originally came to Vienna to help her around the house and with the children. It later turned out that she was one of Freud's closest confidants and thus also significantly involved in his success. – © Sigmund Freud Copyrights

Sigmund Freud and Anna Freud in the Dolomites (1913): Anna was also one of Freud's closest confidants during his life. She is admitted to the Vienna Psychoanalytical Association in 1922. – © Sigmund Freud Copyrights

Sigmund Freud with sons Ernst and Martin in uniform (1916) — Freud with sons Ernst and Martin, who visited their father on leave from the front (1916). – © Sigmund Freud Copyrights

Sigmund Freud and Anna Freud at a table, The Hague (1920) — Sigmund Freud and Anna Freud at a table in The Hague (1920): They attended the 6th International Psychoanalysis Congress in The Hague together. Anna organizes Freud's appearances and accompanies him on his travels. – © Sigmund Freud Copyrights

Sigmund Freud with grandsons Heinz and Ernst, around 1923 — Freud with his grandsons Heinz and Ernst (around 1923): He was especially fond of the sons his daughter Sophie had with photographer Max Halberstadt. By the way, Max Halberstadt photographed many of Freud's iconic portraits. – © Sigmund Freud Copyrights

Sigmund Freud in the summer house next to a couch — Sigmund Freud in the summer house (around 1932): The Freud family used an old Biedermeier villa in the 18th district in the summer months of 1931/32 to escape the heat of the city. – © Sigmund Freud Copyrights

Sigmund Freud in his study with chow, 1937 — Freud in his study with his dog (1937): In the early 1920s, Anna Freud and a patient gave him a chow chow, which was even present during his therapy sessions. – © Sigmund Freud Copyrights

Sigmund Freud with his father, Jacob Freud (around 1864), who was already 41 years old at the birth of his son. – © Sigmund Freud Copyrights

Sigmund Freud aged 16 years with his mother, Amalia Freud. He later said of her: 'When you have been your mother's undisputed darling, you retain for life that feeling of conquest, that confidence of success, which often leads to real success.' – © Sigmund Freud Copyrights

Sigmund Freud and Martha Bernays on their engagement (1882). – © Sigmund Freud Copyrights

Martha Bernays (1884): From their engagement in 1882, another four years would pass before the young couple finally got married in 1886. – © Sigmund Freud Copyrights

The Parisian physician Jean Martin Charcot at a presentation of a woman with hysteria, exhibited in the Salon of 1887. Freud met Charcot on a study trip to Paris. He obtained initial insights and findings in the areas of hysteria, hypnosis and suggestion from him. – © Sigmund Freud Museum/Foto von Gemälde

In 1891, Freud moves with his family to the famous address Berggasse 19 in the 9th Viennese district, where he would practice and live until fleeing from the National Socialists in 1938. The Sigmund Freud Museum is located there today. – © Sigmund Freud Copyrights

Sigmund Freud with family and Minna (around 1898): Martha's younger sister, Minna, originally came to Vienna to help her around the house and with the children. It later turned out that she was one of Freud's closest confidants and thus also significantly involved in his success. – © Sigmund Freud Copyrights

Sigmund Freud and Anna Freud in the Dolomites (1913): Anna was also one of Freud's closest confidants during his life. She is admitted to the Vienna Psychoanalytical Association in 1922. – © Sigmund Freud Copyrights

Freud with sons Ernst and Martin, who visited their father on leave from the front (1916). – © Sigmund Freud Copyrights

Sigmund Freud and Anna Freud at a table in The Hague (1920): They attended the 6th International Psychoanalysis Congress in The Hague together. Anna organizes Freud's appearances and accompanies him on his travels. – © Sigmund Freud Copyrights

Freud with his grandsons Heinz and Ernst (around 1923): He was especially fond of the sons his daughter Sophie had with photographer Max Halberstadt. By the way, Max Halberstadt photographed many of Freud's iconic portraits. – © Sigmund Freud Copyrights

Sigmund Freud in the summer house (around 1932): The Freud family used an old Biedermeier villa in the 18th district in the summer months of 1931/32 to escape the heat of the city. – © Sigmund Freud Copyrights

Freud in his study with his dog (1937): In the early 1920s, Anna Freud and a patient gave him a chow chow, which was even present during his therapy sessions. – © Sigmund Freud Copyrights

Visitors to the Sigmund Freud Museum at Berggasse 19 learn more about Freud and his life in Vienna.