SUDEK, Josef

About the Czech photographer, Josef SUDEK (1896-1976)

Josef SUDEK was born in Kolín, Austria-Hungary. From 1911 to 1913 he made an apprenticeship as a bookbinder in Prague. At the same time he began to take photographs with a 6 × 9 camera (Ica). In 1915 he was drafted into the military. In 1947 he acquired a 30 × 40 cm camera and a Kodak panoramic camera from 1894. Many of his works show Czech landscapes, cityscapes and still lifes, but also the lives of his fellow citizens. What is striking is the variety in which significant art historical developments are reflected in the photography. In addition to Impressionist motifs, there are references to New Objectivity and Surrealism. This makes it difficult to locate his work in art history. He took the majority of his photographs with large-format cameras, which enabled him to dispense with enlargements, i.e. to create a contact print.

Photo books on or with works by Josef SUDEK (a selction)

'Josef Sudek' (Catalog Aachen, 1976); 'Výber fotografií z celozivotního díla' (1990); 'The Commercial Photography for Druzstevni Prace' (2003); 'Czech Vision. Avantgarde Photography in Czechoslovakia' (2007); 'Portraits' (2008); 'Timm Rautert: Josef Sudek, Prag 1967' (2008); 'The Advertising Photographs' (2008); 'Ancient Forest of the Beskids. Works, Vol.5)' (2011); 'Saint Vitus's Cathedral. Works, Vol.6)' (2011); 'The Legacy of a Deeper Vision' (2012); 'Labyrinths' (2014); 'The Window of My Studio' (2016)