Reykjavík Museum of Photography

This project, which Sander worked on throughout his life, contains over six hundred portraits that were intended to reflect in an objective and realistic way the German people, the classes of people and their positions within them, in the twentieth century. But Sanders' portraits from the years 1911-1943 are not only of great documentary value about Germany during a time of great social upheaval, but also an important contribution to the history of photography and, by the same token, to the history of art. Sander was one of the leading representatives of the "New Photography" or "New Objectivity" as it was called within painting and marked a turning point there in the thirties of the 20th century. Not least, Sander laid the foundation for photography to be valued as an art form because he managed with his work to erase the distinction between source and art. The "new photography" in Sanders' spirit involved, as he himself says, "seeing things in their true light, not as they should be or could be," because nothing was more to his liking than "sugary photography with pretense, poses, and tricks."

The “New photography” in Sanders’s spirit involved, as he himself says, “seeing things in their true light, not as they should be or could be”.

August Sander is still a role model for many contemporary artists. His systematic, precise and objective approach to the subject has become a hallmark of documentary photography, and the typological classification reflected in his portraits paved the way for a more realistic approach to the subject within the diverse art forms of the time. Sanders' influence also extends to the history of Icelandic photography, past and present. It can be seen in the work of contemporary Icelandic photographers, but also in the work of the photographer Sigríður Zoëga (1889-1968), who studied and worked with the master from 1911 to 1914 and assisted Sander in portraiture during these years.

August Sander│Portrait

The exhibition features 76 portraits by August Sander from the years 1911-1943, all of which belonged to his ambitious pioneering project "Man of the Twentieth Century".

Au­gust Sand­er│Portrait

The exhibition features 76 portraits by August Sander from the years 1911-1943, all of which belonged to his ambitious pioneering project "Man of the Twentieth Century".

August Sander│Portrait