Nine galleries, three hours and ten amazing photography exhibits? It was rough, but someone had to do it. And…there’s nothing better to get the creative juices flowing than being in the center of New York’s art scene in Chelsea.
New to the group, Professional Women Photographers based in New York, it was a chance to enhance my ongoing passion with photography by joining in on this member outing.
The one photographer that stood out the most to me was August Sander. At the age of 46 in 1922 he started a project, People of the Twentieth Century. Every day he’d bike to a different area around his hometown in Germany and take photographs of every day people; tradesmen, farmers, gypsies, aristocrats, you name it. His mission? To categorize his subjects by profession or social class. Types instead of individuals.
Although his plan was to capture some 600 portraits of his countrymen, he produced a book which the Nazis eventually banned, in addition to raiding his studio and destroying many of his photos. Simply because his images did not represent the master race they wished to create.
After the Nazis were defeated, the negatives that did survive were reclaimed, newly printed and today provides a showcase of people at a specific time in history.
As we left the Walther Collection project space, I glanced back and saw a black sweater left by someone. The gallery quiet from all the chatter of our group, a feeling of loneliness prompted my capture…
Not only you are a great photographer but also a writer.
Thank you Nikki! Such a great supporter. I so appreciate it!
love it,,, and it’s a little sad,,, isn’t it?
Very much so! Thanks for checking in!