Sudek and Sculpture

From his panoramic views of Prague to his enigmatic still lifes, photographer Josef Sudek (1896-1976) captured the unique spirit of the Czech capital during a wide swath of the twentieth century. Sudek enjoyed worldwide fame during his lifetime, yet a substantial part of his practice–photographing works of art–has remained largely unexplored. This book shines a light on Sudek’s most beloved pictorial subject, sculpture, which acted as a bridge between his fine art photography and his commercial work. Sumptuous full-page reproductions of Sud'ks black-and-white photographs illustrate a series of thematic essays, focusing on the scope and legacy of his work, while cameos from the key people and institutions who supported his career reveal Sudek’s rich connection to the artistic circles and movements of his day. Together, they uncover the shifting tension between the ability of photographs to bring art closer to the people and their potential as works of art in their own right.