Sudek, Josef

Josef Sudek (1896 Kolín – 1976 Praha)

Spring Landscape, 1940

black and white photograph, 287×385 mm, Olomouc Museum of Art, inv. no. F 4252

Josef Sudek, with František Drtikol, Jaroslav Rössler and Jaromír Funk, is one of the most prominent Czech photographers from the first half of the 20th century. In his work we find urban recesses, mainly from Prague, as well as landscapes and later studio still-lifes and views from the window of his humble studio. Sudek took up photography as a means of earning a living. As a disabled veteran who had lost his right hand, it was hard for him to find an occupation. Photography became his livelihood as it was one of the few suitable activities he could do. He took photographs to order for the advertising industry and also documented architecture (the cycle from the construction of St. Vitus Cathedral at Prague Castle, 1927-1928). He created reproductions of works of art for publications dealing with fine arts (in particular for the Družstevní práce publishing house). His photograph Jarní krajina/Spring Landscape was taken near his studio in Prague, Na Újezdě, near the Petřín cableway.

Štěpánka Bieleszová