When you think of photographers,
August Sander is probably not the first person that springs to mind. Yet his works are some of the most interesting and memorable of the twentieth century, and it's a shame that he is so underappreciated. He has actually been called the greatest early 20th century portrait photographer, and one of the most important of times past.
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August Sander's life wasn't easy, but he found photography at a young age. He was born in Germany in 1867. Beginning in the mining industry, Sander became an assistant to a photographer in his youth, and travelled around the country in the military. It was only in 1911 when his best works began to develop, and from then till the early 1930s his most memorable pictures and portraits were taken.
Sander's most famous works were a series of photographs called People of the 20th Century. He photographed portraits of soldiers, children, women, and society in general. In fact, his series of photographs are still considered to be an interesting study in German life during those times. His photography took a cross section from all spheres of Germany. He documented the faces of artists, homeless people, soldiers, mothers, tradesmen, and much more. By the time of his death in 1964, his photography was known worldwide.
Sander's works were greatly inhibited by the Nazi regime, to the point that they burned many of his pieces and sentenced him to 10 years in prison. Yet the spirit of his works can still be seen in the remaining photographs, which each tell a bold story.
Aspiring photographers can learn a great deal from August Sander, whose pictures show how even the most commonplace things can be interesting. Normal people and scenes were captured forever in a poignant and captivating way, which inspires people's imagination, creativity, and nostalgia for the past.