Josef Sudek facts for kids
Josef Sudek (born March 17, 1896 – died September 15, 1976) was a famous Czech photographer. He is best known for his amazing pictures of Prague, the capital city of the Czech Republic.
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Life of Josef Sudek
Sudek was born in a town called Kolín in Bohemia. Before he became a photographer, he worked as a bookbinder. This means he put books together.
War and New Beginnings
In 1915, during World War I, Sudek joined the army. He served on the Italian front. In 1916, he was hurt badly in his right arm. Sadly, his arm had to be removed.
After the war, Sudek studied photography for two years. He learned from Jaromír Funke in Prague. Because of his injury, he received a special payment from the army. This money helped him focus on his art.
Early Photography Style
In the 1920s, Sudek took photos in a style called Pictorialist. This style made photos look like paintings. He always wanted to try new things. A local camera club even kicked him out! This was because he argued that photography needed to move beyond looking like paintings. Even with only one arm, he used big, heavy cameras. He often had helpers to make this easier.
Modern and Romantic Photos
Some people say Sudek's photography was modernist. This was true for only a few years in the 1930s. During this time, he did commercial photography. He took pictures for a magazine called Pestrý týden. This was "in the style of the times." But mostly, his personal photos were neo-romantic. This means they had a dreamy, emotional feel.
His early work included many pictures of light. He captured how light fell inside St. Vitus Cathedral. During and after World War II, Sudek took haunting night pictures. He also made wide photos of Prague. He photographed the forests of Bohemia. He even took pictures through the window glass of his own garden. This became his famous The Window of My Atelier series. Later, he photographed the busy inside of his studio. This was called the Labyrinths series.
Exhibitions and Legacy
Sudek first showed his work in 1968. It was part of an exhibition called "Five Photographers." This show was at the Sheldon Museum of Art. He also had a show at the George Eastman House in 1974. He published 16 books of his photos during his life.
Sudek was known as the "Poet of Prague." He never married and was a very shy person. He rarely went to his own photo shows. You also won't see many people in his pictures. Even with the difficulties of war and communism, he had a huge collection of classical music records.
Today, his work is often shown in books. This makes his photos easy to find. Many people interested in Czech photography enjoy his work. In 1984, after he passed away, Sudek was honored. He was added to the International Photography Hall of Fame and Museum.
See also
In Spanish: Josef Sudek para niños
- Josef Sudek Gallery
- 4176 Sudek (an asteroid named after him)
- The Josef Sudek Studio
