August Sander

‘I hate nothing more than sugary photographs with tricks, poses and effects. So allow me to be honest and tell the truth about our age and its people’
– August Sander.

August Sander was born in Herdorf, a small rural village east of Cologne, in 1876. He was one of nine children of a peasant and miner family. Sander is now viewed as a forefather of conceptual art and a pioneering documentarian of human diversity. In his project entitled ‘Menschen des 20. Jahrhunderts (People of the 20th Century)’, a project that spanned four decades of his life, Sander strove to systematically document contemporary German society.

This encyclopedic magnum opus constitutes one of the most monumental endeavors in photographic history. Sander’s considered oeuvre, which includes landscape, portrait, architecture and commercial photography, has served as a wellspring of inspiration for modern and contemporary photographers, from Walker Evans and Diane Arbus, to Tina Barney, Rineke Dijkstra, and Bernd and Hilla Becher, and has exerted a profound influence upon new generations of visual artists across mediums.

Sander began his career around the turn of the century with prize-winning historicist photography in Linz, Austria. First exhibitions and purchases by museums date at this time. In Cologne in the early 1920s, Sander established a photographic portrait studio. During this formative time, he regularly met with the group of the (Cologne Progressives), including the influential artists Franz W. Seiwert, Jankel Adler and Heinrich Hoerle. Stimulated by these exchanges, he formalized the concept for ‘People of the 20th Century’, a project whose traces date back to 1910 and which was first introduced in an exhibition in the Kölnische Kunstverein in 1927. The show was positively received by the press, with one reviewer deeming Sander a ‘Balzac of the lens.’ His matter-of-fact, technically exact approach, enhanced by his adoption of a straightforward perspective and use of natural light, became Sander’s modus operandi as he put his apparatus to work atomizing and cataloging society – ‘to tell the truth about his times and his fellow citizens.’

This exhibition led to the publishing of his first book, ‘Antlitz der Zeit (Face of Our Time)’ in 1929. In 1936, the printing blocks were destroyed and unsold copies of the book were impounded, likely due to the publication’s representation of a heterogeneous German society. It is generally understood that the NAZI Party frowned upon such societal representations.

Regardless of the political situation in Germany in the 1933-1945, Sander continued to operate his Cologne photo studio, portraying Intellectuals, Jews, National Socialists, as well as the regular people from the street. He selected many of these commercial portraits for his artistic-intellectual work ‘Menschen des 20. Jahrhunderts’, where they became a political statement. Between 1933 and 1935, Sander published books exploring regions of Germany, and from 1942 he began to relocate the most important parts of his negative archive to Kuchhausen, a small village in the Westerwald, where he continued his photographic profession as well as his project work. Although his studio in Cologne was destroyed in a 1944 bombing raid, Sander continued to work on ‘People of the 20th Century’ throughout the rest of his life.

In 1951, German collector and photo-entrepreneur L. Fritz Gruber dedicated an extensive exhibition to Sander at the Photokina in Cologne and introduced him to Edward Steichen. In 1953, Steichen selected a number of his works to be included in his exhibition, ‘The Family of Man,’ at MoMA in New York. Sander has since been honored with major solo exhibitions and inclusion in important group shows and public collections throughout the world. He remains a constant and steadfast influence on new generations of artists to this day.

Biography

Born Herdorf, Germany, 1876

Died Cologne, Germany, 1964

Selected Solo Exhibitions

2020 Pinakothek der Moderne, 'August Sander. Sardinia 1927', Munich, Germany
Círculo de Bellas Artes de Madrid, 'August Sander: Fotografías de "Gente del siglo XX"', Madrid, Spain
Hauser & Wirth, 'August Sander: New Women, New Men, and New Identities', Los Angeles CA

2019 National Museum Cardiff, 'Artist Room: August Sander', Cardiff, Wales (Travelling Exhibition)
Ajuntament de Barcelona – Institut de cultura de Barcelona, 'Photographs from “People of the 20th century” – August Sander', Barcelona, Spain

2018 Die Photographische Sammlung, SK Stiftung Kultur, 'August Sander. Meisterwerke – Photographien aus Menschen des 20. Jahrhunderts', Cologne, Germany
Galerie Julian Sander, 'August Sander (seen by Gerd Sander)', Cologne, Germany
Hauser & Wirth, 'August Sander. Men Without Masks', London, UK
WestLicht, 'August Sander', Vienna, Austria
Shoah Memorial Museum, 'August Sander. Persécutés/persécuteurs des Hommes du XXe siècle', Paris, France

2017 Siebengebirgsmuseum, 'August Sander: Das Gesicht der Landschaft. Rheinland und Siebengebirge', Königswinter, Germany
Czytelnia Sztuki, 'August Sander: Portrety, 1910–1954', Gliwice, Poland
Tate Liverpool, 'Portraying a Nation: Germany 1918-1933. ARTIST ROOMS: August Sander', Liverpool, UK
Hauser & Wirth, 'August Sander', New York NY
Kunstmuseum Kloster Unser Lieben Frauen, 'August Sander. Photographs from "Menschen des 20. Jahrhunderts“', Magdeburg, Germany

2016 Le Point du Jour, 'August Sander', Cherbourg, France
Kreisverwaltung Altenkirchen, 'August Sander. Der Westerwald im Spiegel der Zeit', Altenkirchen, Germany

2015 Deborah Bell Photographs, 'August Sander: Prints for the Aperture Monograph', New York NY
Palazzo Ducale, 'August Sander: Ritratto del XX Secolo', Genoa, Italy
Die Photographische Sammlung, SK Stiftung Kultur, 'Blick in die Sammlung: August Sander. Westerwald', Cologne, Germany
Ernst Barlach Museum, 'August Sander und die Kölner Progressiven: 1920-1933', Wedel, Germany
FOMU Fotomuseum Antwerp, 'August Sander. Meesterwerken en Ontdekkingen', Antwerp, Belgium

2014 Pinakothek der Moderne‚ 'People in a River Landscape. August Sander and the Photography of the Present from the Lothar Schirmer Collection', Munich, Germany
Galerie Feroz, 'August Sander: Menschen des 20. Jahrhunderts', Bonn, Germany
Art Institute of Chicago, 'August Sander: Photography Is', Chicago IL

Die Photographische Sammlung, SK Stiftung Kultur, 'August Sander: Meisterwerke und Entdeckungen', Cologne, Germany
Kunsthalle, Neue Residenz, Salzburg Museum, 'Von Mensch zu Mensch. Wilhelm Leibl & August Sander', Salzburg, Austria (Travelling Exhibition)

2013 MSVU Mount Saint Vincent University Art Gallery, 'August Sander: Objective Romantic', Halifax, Canada
La Fábrica, 'August Sander: Hombres del siglo XX, People of the 20th Century', Madrid, Spain
Multimedia Art Museum, 'August Sander: Portrait. Landscape. Architecture', Moscow, Russia
Wallraf-Richartz-Museum & Fondation Corboud, 'Von Mensch zu Mensch. Wilhelm Leibl & August Sander', Cologne, Germany (Travelling Exhibition)

2012 Die Photographische Sammlung, SK Stiftung Kultur, 'Blick in die Sammlung: August Sander – New Arrivals', Cologne, Germany
Bienal de São Paulo, 'August Sander: People of the 20th Century' at the 30th São Paulo Biennial, São Paulo, Brazil
Museum Schloss Fellenberg, 'August Sander. Landschaften – Saar, Eifel, Mosel, Siebengebirge, Niederrhein, Bergisches Land', Merzig, Germany

2011 Nevada Museum of Art, 'August Sander: Face of Our Time', Reno NV
Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art, 'Artists Rooms: August Sander', Edinburgh, UK
Die Photographische Sammlung, SK Stiftung Kultur, 'August Sander. Sardinien 1927', Cologne, Germany
The Museum of National History at Frederiksborg Castle, 'August Sander. Face of our time', Hillerød, Denmark

2010 Centre National de l'Audiovisuel, 'August Sander. Icons from the Portrait Collection "People of the Twentieth Century"', Dudelange, Luxembourg (Travelling Exhibition)
Haus Coburg, Sammlung Stuckenberg, Städtische Galerie Delmenhorst, 'August Sander. Ikonen des Porträtwerks "Menschen des 20. Jahrhunderts"', Delmenhorst, Germany (Travelling Exhibition)
Tate Modern, 'Artists Rooms: August Sander', London, UK

2009 Kölnisches Stadtmuseum, 'August Sander. Köln wie es war', Cologne, Germany
Galleria Comunale d'Arte, 'August Sander. Photographs of a trip to Italy in 1927', Cagliari, Italy
Fondation Henri Cartier-Bresson, 'August Sander: Looking, observing and thinking', Paris, France

2008 Die Photographische Sammlung, SK Stiftung Kultur, 'August Sander. Bilder von Paaren und Familien', Cologne, Germany
Getty Center, Getty Museum, 'August Sander: People of the Twentieth Century', Los Angeles CA
Open Museum of Photography, 'August Sander. People of the Twentieth Century', Tel Hai, Israel (Travelling Exhibition)
Art Cologne, 'Landscapes – Photographs by Clifford Ross and August Sander', Cologne, Germany
Kreisverwaltung Altenkirchen, 'August Sander. Menschen und Landschaften zwischen Sieg und Westerwald', Altenkirchen, Germany
Galerie Condé, 'August Sander – A Selection of "People of the Twentieth Century"', Paris, France (Travelling Exhibition)
Georg Meistermann Museum, 'August Sander. Face of Our Time', Wittlich, Germany (Travelling Exhibition)

2007 Die Photographische Sammlung, SK Stiftung Kultur, 'August Sander. Das Siebengebirge', Cologne, Germany
Georg Meistermann Museum, 'August Sander. Antlitz der Zeit', Wittlich, Germany
Turlej Gallery, 'August Sander. Face of Our Time, Krakow, Poland (Travelling Exhibition)
Foam Fotografiemuseum Amsterdam‎, 'August Sander. People of the Twentieth Century', Amsterdam, Netherlands (Travelling Exhibition)

2006 Die Photographische Sammlung, SK Stiftung Kultur, 'August Sander. Linzer Jahre 1901-1909', Cologne, Germany
Haus der Fotografie, 'August Sander – Portraits. A selection of "People of the Twentieth Century"', Burghausen, Germany (Travelling Exhibition)

2005 Städtische Galerie Mennonitenkirche, 'August Sander. Portraits and Landscapes', Neuwied, Germany
Landesgalerie Linz, 'August Sander. The Linz Years (1901-1909)', Linz, Austria

2004 The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 'August Sander: People of the Twentieth Century, A Photographic Portrait of Germany', New York NY (Travelling Exhibition)
Städel Museum, 'August Sander. Menschen des 20. Jahrhunderts', Frankfurt am Main, Germany (Travelling Exhibition)
Palazzo Clementino Caffarelli, Musei Capitolini, 'August Sander. Ritratti', Rome, Italy

2003 Martin-Gropius-Bau, 'August Sander. Menschen des 20. Jahrhunderts', Berlin, Germany (Travelling Exhibition)

2002 SFMOMA San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, 'August Sander: People of the Twentieth Century', San Francisco CA (Travelling Exhibition)
Rupertinum – Museum der Moderne Salzburg, 'August Sander. Menschen des 20. Jahrhunderts', Salzburg, Austria (Travelling Exhibition)
Fotomuseum Winterthur, 'August Sander. Menschen des 20. Jahrhunderts', Winterthur, Switzerland (Travelling Exhibition)

2001 Die Photographische Sammlung, SK Stiftung Kultur, 'August Sander: Menschen des 20. Jahrhunderts', Cologne, Germany

2000 AIPAD Association of International Photography Art Dealers, 'August Sander', New York NY
Art Cologne, 'August Sander', Cologne, Germany

1999 Landesmuseum Mainz, 'August Sander. Landschaftsphotographien', Mainz, Germany (Travelling Exhibition)
Die Photographische Sammlung, SK Stiftung Kultur, 'August Sander. Landschaftsphotographien', Cologne, Germany (Travelling Exhibition)

1997 Die Photographische Sammlung, SK Stiftung Kultur, 'August Sander. Photographien 1902-1939', Cologne, Germany
National Portrait Gallery / August Sander Archive, Kulturstiftung Stadtsparkasse Köln, 'August Sander. In photography there are no unexplained shadows!', London, UK (Travelling Exhibition)
Museo di Firenze Storia della Fotografia Fratelli Alinari / August Sander Archive, Kulturstiftung Stadtsparkasse Köln, 'August Sander. In photography there are no unexplained shadows!', Florence, Italy (Travelling Exhibition)

1996 Art Cologne, 'August Sander (1876-1964). Photographien aus der ersten Hälfte des 20. Jahrhunderts', Cologne, Germany
Stedelijk Museum / August Sander Archive, Kulturstiftung Stadtsparkasse Köln, 'August Sander. In photography there are no unexplained shadows!', Amsterdam, Netherlands (Travelling Exhibition)
Palais des Beaux-Arts / August Sander Archive, Kulturstiftung Stadtsparkasse Köln, 'August Sander. In photography there are no unexplained shadows!', Brussels, Belgium (Travelling Exhibition)

1995 Die Photographische Sammlung, SK Stiftung Kultur, 'August Sander. Konzept und Menschenbild', Cologne, Germany
Centre National de la Photographie / August Sander Archive, Kulturstiftung Stadtsparkasse Köln, 'August Sander. In photography there are no unexplained shadows!', Paris, France (Travelling Exhibition)
Kunstmuseum Bonn / August Sander Archive, Kulturstiftung Stadtsparkasse Köln, 'August Sander: In der Photographie gibt es keine ungeklärten Schatten!', Bonn, Germany (Travelling Exhibition)
Künstlerhaus Edenkoben / Altstadt Plovdiv e.V., 'August Sander. Antlitz der Zeit', Plovdiv, Bulgaria (Travelling Exhibition)

1994 August Sander Archive, Kulturstiftung Stadtsparkasse Köln, 'August Sander. Gelebte Vergangenheit', Cologne, Germany
Watari-um Museum of Contemporary Art / August Sander Archive, Kulturstiftung Stadtsparkasse Köln, 'August Sander. In photography there are no unexplained shadows!', Tokyo, Japan (Travelling Exhibition)
State Pushkin Museum of Fine Arts / August Sander Archive, Kulturstiftung Stadtsparkasse Köln, 'August Sander. In photography there are no unexplained shadows!', Moscow, Russia (Travelling Exhibition)
Museum für Photographie Braunschweig, 'August Sander. Antlitz der Zeit', Braunschweig, Germany (Travelling Exhibition)

1993 Bibliothèque Mejanes, 'August Sander. Antlitz der Zeit', Aix-en-Provence, France (Travelling Exhibition)

1981 Galerie der Hochschule für Grafik und Buchkunst, 'Fotografisches Werk August Sanders: Menschen des 20. Jahrhunderts', Leipzig, Germany

1980 Philadelphia Museum of Art, 'August Sander: Photographs of an Epoch 1904-1959', Philadelphia PA

1978 Stadtmuseum, 'August Sander – Retrospektive', Linz, Austria

1977 Scottish Photography Group, 'August Sander, Menschen des 20. Jahrhunderts / People of the 20th Century', Edinburgh, UK
Kunstgewerbemuseum, 'Menschen ohne Maske. Fotografien 1906–1952 von August Sander', Zurich, Switzerland

1976 Sander Gallery, 'August Sander 1876-1976: A Retrospective in Honor of the Artist's 100th Birthday', Washington D.C.
Kölnischer Kunstverein, 'August Sander: Menschen des 20. Jahrhunderts', Cologne, Germany (Travelling Exhibition)

1973 Mannheimer Kunstverein, 'August Sander. Menschen ohne Maske', Mannheim, Germany
Sonnabend Gallery, New York NY

1969 MoMA Museum of Modern Art, 'August Sander (1876-1964)', New York NY

1959 Deutsche Gesellschaft für Photographie, 'August Sander: Gestalten seiner Zeit', Cologne, Germany

1927 Kölnischer Kunstverein, 'August Sander: Menschen des 20. Jahrhunderts', Cologne, Germany

1906 Landhaus-Pavillon, 'Grosse Ausstellung photographischer Atelier August Sander', Linz/Donau, Germany

Selected Group Exhibitions

2020 Photographischen Sammlung, SK Stiftung Kultur / Studio Becher / Kunstarchiv Kaiserswerth, Landeshauptstadt Düsseldorf, 'Analogien: Bernd & Hilla Becher, Peter Weller, August Sander – Photographische Industrielandschaften, Architekturen und Porträts', Düsseldorf, Germany

2019 Leopold-Hoesch-Museum, 'Vom Leben in Industrielandschaften – Eine fotografische Bestandsaufnahme', Düren, Germany
Dom Museum Wien, 'Family Matters', Vienna, Austria
Everson Museum of Art, 'Time Returns: A Continuous Now', Syracuse NY

2018 National Gallery of Australia, 'Otto Dix and August Sander. War, people, landscape', Canberra, Australia
LUMA Arles, 'Picture Industry: une histoire provisoire de l'image technique, 1844-2018'', Arles, France
me Collectors Room Berlin / Stiftung Olbricht, 'The Moment is Eternity. Works from the Olbricht Collection', Berlin, Germany
Photobastei, 'Meister des 20. Jahrhunderts – der andere Blick', Zurich, Switzerland

2017 Minneapolis Institute of Art, 'New Pictures: Omer Fast, Appendix', Minneapolis MN
Kunsthalle Wien, 'How To Live Together', Vienna, Austria
Hauser & Wirth, 'Serialities', New York NY
Pinakothek der Moderne, 'Künstlerportraits. Fotografien der 1920er und 1930er Jahre der Stiftung Ann und Jürgen Wilde', Munich, Germany
Hessel Museum of Art, 'Picture Industry', Annandale-on-Hudson NY

2016 Sprengel Museum, 'Werkstatt für Photographie 1976 – 1986', Hannover, Germany
Neue Galerie, 'BerufsBilder. Positionen zeitgenössischer Portraitfotografie', Dachau, Germany
Kunsthalle Nürnberg und Kunsthaus im KunstKulturQuartier, 'Mit anderen Augen. Das Porträt in der zeitgenössischen Fotografie', Nürnberg, Germany

2015 NS Dokumentationszentrum, 'August Sanders unbeugsamer Sohn', Cologne, Germany
Museo Correr, 'New Objectivity: Modern German Art in the Weimar Republic: 1919-1933. Otto Dix, Christian Schad, Georg Grosz, Max Beckmann and August Sander', Venice, Italy
Stiftung Schloss Neuhardenberg, 'Ikonen und Konzepte. Von August Sander zu Jim Dine', Neuhardenberg, Germany

2014 Kunstmuseum Wolfsburg, 'RealSurreal. Masterpieces of Avant-Garde Photography. Das Neue Sehen 1920-1950. Siegert Collection', Wolfsburg, Germany
Martin-Gropius-Bau, 'Walker Evans – Ein Lebenswerk', Berlin, Germany

2013 Bienal de São Paulo, 'The imminence of poetics - Selected works' at 30a Bienal de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
Landesgalerie Linz, 'AGES. Porträts vom Älterwerden', Linz, Austria
Martener Strasse 328, 'Wilhelm Schürmann. Wegweiser zum Glück. Bilder einer Straße. Dortmund 1979-1981', Dortmund, Germany (Travelling Exhibition)
L'Ospitale Rubiera, 'Petra Wittmar. Medebach. Photographien 1979-1983. Linea di Confine per la Fotografia Contemporanea', Rubiera, Italy
Whitechapel Gallery, 'Karl Blossfeldt', London, UK
Fotohof, 'Wilhelm Schürmann. Wegweiser zum Glück. Bilder einer Straße. Dortmund 1979-1981', Salzburg, Austria (Travelling Exhibition)
Huis Marseille, 'Walker Evans. Decade by Decade', Amsterdam, Netherlands (Travelling Exhibition)
Landesgalerie Linz, 'Walker Evans. Decade by Decade', Linz, Austria (Travelling Exhibition)

2012 Fondation A, 'Judith Joy Ross. Photographs since 1982', Brussels, Belgium (Travelling Exhibition)
Kunstmuseum Kloster Unser Lieben Frauen, 'Judith Joy Ross. Photographs since 1982', Magdeburg, Germany (Travelling Exhibition)
Buffon Museum, 'Karl Blossfeldt. La nature vue de près', Montbard, France
Musée du Château des ducs de Wurtemberg, 'Karl Blossfeldt et les naturalistes du pays de Montbéliard', Montbéliard, France

2011 Landesgalerie Linz, 'Joachim Brohm. COLOR', Linz, Austria
National Gallery of Art of the Lithuanian Art Museum, 'Portraits. Photographs by Jim Dine' Vilnius, Litauen
Museum für Gegenwartskunst, 'Bernd und Hilla Becher. Fachwerkhäuser des Siegener Industriegebietes', Siegen, Germany

2010 Foam Fotografiemuseum Amsterdam, 'Karl Blossfeldt', Amsterdam, Netherlands

2008 Städtische Galerie, 'Man Ray und L. Fritz Gruber – Jahre einer Freundschaft 1956 bis 1976', Karlsruhe, Germany
Städtische Galerie, 'Sigmar Polke – Photographische Arbeiten aus der Sammlung Garnatz', Karlsruhe, Germany
Goethe-Institut, 'Stadt-Bild-Köln. Photographien von 1880 bis heute, Rotterdam, Netherlands
Goethe-Institut, 'City-Image-Cologne. Photographs from 1880 to the present', Rotterdam, Netherlands

2007 Stadtmuseum Schleswig, 'Klassiker. Von Henri Cartier-Bresson bis Charlotte March. Einblicke in die Sammlung der Deutschen Gesellschaft für Photographie', Schleswig, Germany
Art Cologne, 'Koordinaten: Blick in die Sammlung / Zeitgenössische Portraitphotographie', Cologne, Germany

2004 Georg Meistermann Museum, 'Meisterwerke der Photographie aus der Sammlung der Deutschen Gesellschaft für Fotografie', Wittlich, Germany
Rathaus Flammersfeld, 'August Sander. Portraitphotographien aus dem Westerwald', Flammersfeld, Germany
Art Cologne / Die Photographische Sammlung, SK Stiftung Kultur, 'Photographs by Gabriele and Helmut Nothelfer – Wilhelm Schürmann – Tata Ronkholz and Thomas Struth – Joachim Broh, with a preview of works by Mitch Epstein', Cologne, Germany
Galerie d'Art Contemporain Am Tunnel & Espace Edward Steichen, Banque et Caisse d'Epargne de l'Etat de Luxembourg, 'Landschaft und Naturstudien. Photographien von August Sander, Karl Blossfeldt und Albert Renger-Patzsch', Luxemburg, Luxemburg
Musée des Beaux Arts de Nancy, 'Photographies de Bernd et Hilla Becher', Nancy, France
Industrie- und Handelskammer, 'Aus anderer Sicht. Ein Blick auf historische Industriephotographien', Cologne, Germany
Photokina, 'Sechs Jahrzehnte Bildkultur – eine Auswahl aus der Sammlung der Deutschen Gesellschaft für Photographie', Cologne, Germany

2002 Art Cologne / Die Photographische Sammlung, SK Stiftung Kultur, 'Transfer – Focussing on People. A Selection from the Art Collection of the Banque et Caisse d'Epargne de l'Etat, Luxemburg', Cologne, Germany

2000 Josef-Haubrich-Kunsthalle, 'Zeitgenossen: August Sander und die Kunstszene der 20er Jahre im Rheinland', Cologne, Germany
Schirmer/Mosel Showroom, 'Stephen Shore. American Surfaces 1972', Munich, Germany (Travelling Exhibition)
Kunsthalle Nürnberg, 'Candida Höfer. Orte, Jahre. Photographien 1968-1999', Nürnberg, Germany
Kunsthalle zu Kiel, 'Zeitgenossen. August Sander und die Kunstszene der 20er Jahre im Rheinland', Kiel, Germany

1999 Staatliche Galerie Moritzburg, 'Die Welt der Pflanze. Photographien von Albert Renger-Patzsch und aus dem Auriga-Verlag, in Zusammenarbeit mit dem Albert Renger-Patzsch Archiv', Halle, Germany
Nederlands Foto Instituut, 'Landschappen van August Sander en Jeff Wall', Rotterdam, Netherlands

1998 Center for Creative Photography, 'Comparative Concepts: August Sander, Karl Blossfeldt, Albert Renger-Patzsch, Bernd und Hilla Becher', Tucson AZ (Travelling Exhibition)
International Center of Photography, 'Comparative Concepts: August Sander, Karl Blossfeldt, Albert Renger-Patzsch, Bernd und Hilla Becher', New York NY (Travelling Exhibition)

1980 Ständige Vertretung, 'August Sander: Fotografien von 1906-1945; Bernd und Hilla Becher: Fotografien von 1961-1980', Berlin, Germany

1956 MoMA Museum of Modern Art, 'Diogenes with a Camera III: August Sander, Alvarez Bravo, Walker Evans, and Paul Strand', New York NY

1955 MoMA Museum of Modern Art, 'Family of Man', New York NY

1951 Photokina, [2nd photokina], Cologne, Germany

Bibliography

Monographs

2017 Conrath-Scholl, Gabriele, Scheuren, Elmar, 'August Sander. Das Gesicht der Landschaft. Rhein und Siebengebirge', Königswinter: Siebengebirgsmuseum der Stadt Königswinter e.V., 2017 (exh. cat.)

2016 Matz, Reinhard, 'August Sanders Köln wie es war', Cologne: Greven Verlag, 2016

2014 Graeve Ingelmann, Inka (ed.), 'Menschen vor Flusslandschaft. August Sander und die Fotografie der Gegenwart aus der Sammlung Lothar Schirmer', Munich: Schirmer/Mosel Verlag, Pinakothek der Moderne, 2014 (exh. cat.)
Kemp, Wolfgang (ed.), 'August Sander. Rheinlandschaften. Photographien 1929–1946', Munich: Schirmer/Mosel, 2014

2013 Die Photographische Sammlung, SK-Stiftung Kultur Köln (eds.), 'August Sander. People of the 20th century. A cultural work of photographs divided into seven groups', Munich: Schirmer/Mosel Verlag, 2013 (exh. cat.)

2009 Kölnisches Stadtmuseum (ed.), 'August Sander. Köln wie es war. 408 Fotografien von 1920 bis 1939', Cologne: Emons, 2009 (exh. cat.)
–––, 'August Sander, Sardinien: Photographien einer Italienreise 1927', Cologne/Munich: Die Photographische Sammlung, SK Stiftung Kultur Köln/Schirmer/Mosel, 2009 (exh. cat.)
Conrath-Scholl, Gabriele (ed.), 'August Sander. Sehen, Beobachten und Denken. Photographien', Munich: Schirmer/Mosel Verlag, 2009 (exh. cat.)
Conrath-Scholl, Gabriele (ed.), 'August Sander. Seeing, Observing and Thinking. Photographs', Munich: Schirmer/Mosel Verlag, 2009 (exh. cat.)

2006 –––, 'August Sander. Face of our time. Sixty portraits of twentieth-century Germans', Munich/London: Schirmer Art Books, 2006
Conrath-Scholl, Gabriele, Hochleitner, Martin, Lange, Susanne, 'August Sander: Linzer Jahre, 1901-1909', Munich: Schirmer/Mosel Verlag 2006

2005 Conrath-Scholl, Gabriele, Hochleitner, Martin, Lange, Susanne (eds.), 'August Sander. Linzer Jahre 1901-1909', Munich: Schirmer/Mosel Verlag, 2005

2003 Döblin, Alfred, 'August Sander. Antlitz der Zeit. Sechzig Aufnahmen deutscher Menschen des 20. Jahrhunderts', Munich: Schirmer/Mosel Verlag, 2003
Döblin, Alfred, 'August Sander. Face of Our Time', Munich: Schirmer Art Books, 2003

2002 Verein August-Macke-Haus (ed.), 'August Sander - Franz M. Jansen. Rheinlandschaften im Dialog', Bonn: Verein August-Macke-Haus, 2002
Lange, Susanne, Conrath-Scholl, Gabriele (eds.), 'August Sander. Menschen des 20. Jahrhunderts: Ein Kulturwerk in Lichtbildern eingeteilt in sieben Gruppen', Cologne/Munich: Die Photographische Sammlung, SK Stiftung Kultur Köln/Schirmer/Mosel Verlag, 2002

2001 Lange, Susanne, Conrath-Scholl, Gabriele (eds.), 'August Sander: Menschen des 20. Jahrhunderts. Studienband', Cologne/Munich: Die Photographische Sammlung, SK Stiftung Kultur Köln/Schirmer/Mosel Verlag, 2001

2000 Lange, Susanne, Schmidt, Hans-Werner (eds.), 'Zeitgenossen. August Sander und die Kunstszene der 20er Jahre im Rheinland', Göttingen: Steidl, 2000
–––, 'August Sander. Photographs from the J. Paul Getty Museum', Los Angeles: J. Paul Getty Museum, 2000 (exh .cat.)

1999 Lugon, Olivier (ed.), 'August Sander. Landschaften', Cologne/Munich: Die Photographische Sammlung, SK Stiftung Kultur Köln/Schirmer/Mosel Verlag, 1999
Die Photographische Sammlung, SK Stiftung Kultur Köln (eds.): 'August Sander. Landschaften', Munich: Schirmer/Mosel Verlag, 1999
Heiting, Manfred (ed.), 'August Sander. 1876–1964', Cologne: Taschen Verlag, 1999

1998 Brenne, Hans R. (ed.), 'Das neue Bild vom Menschen. August Sander und die traditionelle Portraitphotographie', Ratingen: Preuß, 1998

1997 Lange, Susanne, Conrath-Scholl, Gabriele, Ganteführer, Anne [et. al], 'August Sander, Karl Blossfeldt, Albert Renger-Patzsch, Bernd und Hilla Becher. Vergleichende Konzeptionen', Cologne/Munich: Die Photographische Sammlung, SK Stiftung Kultur Köln/Schirmer/Mosel Verlag, 1997 (exh. cat.)

1996 Schreier, Christoph (ed.), 'August Sander. In Photography there are no unexplained shadows', London/Cologne: National Portrait Gallery/August Sander Archiv, SK Stiftung Kultur Köln, 1996

1995 Lange, Susanne, Conrath-Scholl, Gabriele, 'August Sander. Photographien 1902–1939', Berlin/Cologne: Kulturstiftung der Länder/Kulturstiftung der Stadtsparkasse Köln, 1995
–––, 'August Sander. Eine Reise nach Sardinien. Fotografien 1927', Hannover: Sprengel-Museum, 1995 (exh. cat.)
Lange, Susanne, Dr. Schäfke, Werner (eds.), 'August Sander. Köln wie es war', Cologne: Kölnisches Stadtmuseum, August Sander Archiv, Kulturstiftung der Stadtsparkasse Köln, 1995

1994 Schreier, Christoph, Sander, Gerd, 'August Sander. In der Photographie gibt es keine ungeklärten Schatten', Berlin/Cologne: Ars Nicolai/August Sander Archives, Stiftung City-Treff, 1994 (exh. cat.)
Misselbeck, Reinhold (ed.), 'August Sander. Köln-Portrait', Cologne: Wienand Verlag, 1994

1990 Nordrhein-Westfalen-Stiftung, Naturschutz, Heimat- und Kulturpflege (eds.), 'August Sander. Das Siebengebirge. Naturbilder aus den Jahren 1926 bis 1953', Cologne: Rheinland Verlag, 1990

1988 Schäfke, Werner (ed.), 'August Sander. Köln, wie es war', Cologne: Emons Verlag, 1988

1985 Ranke, Winfried (ed.), 'August Sander. Die Zerstörung Kölns. Photographien 1945 – 1946', Munich: Schirmer/Mosel, 1985

1982 Sander, Gunther, 'August Sander', Leipzig: VEB Fotokinoverlag, 1982

1980 Newhall, Beaumont (ed.), 'August Sander. Photographs of an Epoch 1904-1959. Man of the twentieth Century, Rhineland Landscapes, Nature Studies, Architectural and Industrial Photographs, Images of Sardina', New York: Aperture, 1980

1976 Sander, Gunter, 'August Sander: Menschen ohne Maske. Photographien 1906 – 1950', Munich: Schirmer/Mosel Verlag, 1976
Döblin, Alfred (ed.), 'August Sander. Antlitz der Zeit', Munich: Schirmer/Mosel, 1976

1975 Kemp, Wolfgang, 'August Sander: Rheinlandschaften. Photographien 1929 – 1946', Munich: Schirmer/Mosel, 1975.

1973 Mann, Golo, Sander, Gunter, 'August Sander. Men Without Masks. Faces of Germany 1910 – 1938', New York: New York Graphic Society, 1973

Publications

2014 Schäfke, Werner, Laschet, Carsten, 'Brückenstadt. Köln. Fotografien von 1900 bis heute', Cologne: Bachem Verlag, 2014

2013 Dekiert, Marcus, Krischel, Roland (eds.), 'Von Mensch zu Mensch. Wilhelm Leibl und August Sander', Munich: Hirmer, 2013

2011 Schnorbach, Marita, 'Projekt August Sander. Sich zur Schau stellen. Photographie in der Schule', Cologne: Anna-Freud-Schule, 2011

2008 Öhlschläger, Claudia: ‘Antlitz der Zeit. Zur soziologisch-politischen Dimension des Physiognomischen in der Ära der Neuen Sachlichkeit', in: Hebekus, Uwe, Stöckmann, Ingo (eds.), 'Die Souveränität der Literatur', Munich: Fink, 2008, pp. 239 – 257

2007 Stumberger, Rudolf, 'Klassen-Bilder. Sozialdokumentarische Fotografie 1900 – 1945', Konstanz: Universitätsverlag, 2007

2005 Philipp, Claudia Gabriele, 'August Sander', in: Neue Deutsche Biographie (NDB), Vol. 22, Berlin: Duncker & Humblot, 2005

2004 Conrath-Scholl, Gabriele, Lange, Susanne, 'Einen Spiegel der Zeit schaffen. August Sanders Menschen des 20. Jahrhunderts', in: Zeithistorische Forschungen, Vol. 2, 2004

2002 Naef, Weston (ed.), 'In Focus. August Sander. Photographs from the J. Paul Getty Museum', Los Angeles: J. Paul Getty Museum, 2000

1986 Philipp , Claudia Gabriele, 'August Sanders Projekt. Menschen des 20. Jahrhunderts. Rezeption und Interpretation', Cologne: Philosophische Fakultät 1986 (thesis)

Press

2018 Luke, Ben, 'German portraits the Nazis were desperate to suppress', in: Evening Standard, London/UK, 23 May 2018, ill.
Haddad, Natalie, 'Art and Ascent of the Third Reich', on: hyperallergic.com, New York/NY, 21 May 2018, ill.
Wood, Gaby, 'August Sander: "Every Person's Story is Written Plainly on His Face"', in: The Daily Telegraph, London/UK, 18 May 2018, ill.
Harrison, Anya, '"August Sander" at Hauser & Wirth', in: Modern Painters, New York/ NY, May 2018, ill.
__, 'Before the Fall: German and Austrian Art of the 1930s', in: Whitewaller, New York/NY, May 2018, ill.
Clifford, Eva, 'August Sander: Men Without Masks', on: bjp-online.com, UK, 18 April 2018, ill.

(contd.) Budick, Ariella, 'Art in Nazism's shadow: Before the Fall at the Neue Galerie, New York', on: ft.com, London/ UK, 3 April 2018, ill.
Gauvin, Jean-Baptiste, 'August Sander: Portraits in the face of oblivion', on: loeildelaphotographie.com, Paris/FR, 23 March 2018, ill.
Guillot, Claire, 'Photographie: August Sander, les Allemands sous tous les angles', on: http://www.lemonde.fr, Paris/FR, 19 March 2018, ill.
Waygood, Walter, 'First Person: Blaenavon-born photographer Walter Waygood', on: http://www.southwalesargus.co.uk, Newport/UK, 9 January 2018
2017
Smyth, Diane, 'The Shadow Archive, vernacular portrait photography at The Walther Collection, NYC', on: bjp-online.com London/UK,13 December 2017, ill.
Jones, Jonathan, 'Portraying a Nation: Germany 1919-1933 – Tate Liverpool', on: theguardian.com, New York/NY, 13 December 2017
Eler, Alicia, ' Artist Omer Fast is drawing protest in N.Y., but only curiosity in Minneapolis', on: http://m.startribune.com/, Minneapolis, 26 October 2017, ill.
Cotter, Holland, 'Omer Fast's Chinatown Installation Is a Misfire', on: nyimes.com, New York, 20 October 2017, ill.
Keane, Tim, 'How August Sander and Otto Dix recorded Fascism's Rise', on: https://hyperallergic.com, New York/NY, 08 October 2017, ill.
du Toit, Wessie, 'Starring at the zeitgeist', on: https://www.apollo-magazine.com/staring-the-zeitgeist-right-in-the-face/, Apollo, 17 August 2017, ill.
Carey-Kent, Paul, 'Portraying a Nation: Germany 1919 – 1933 Tate Liverpool', in: The World of Interiors, London, September 2017, ill.
Wullschlager, Jackie, 'German Art at Tate Liverpool: Reflections on Age of Anxiety', in: Financial Times, London, 30 June 2017.
Januszczak, Waldemar, 'Art review: Germany 1919-1933 at Tate Liverpool', in: The Sunday Times, London, 25 June 2017, ill.
Kent, Sarah, 'Portraying a Nation, Tate Liverpool review – an inspired juxtaposition', on: www.theartdesk.com, Barnet, 26 June 2017, ill.
Cumming, Laura, 'Portraying a Nation: germany 1919-33 review – August Sander and Otto Dix, masters of life and death', on: www.theguardian.com, London, 5 June 2017
___, 'If you thought Liza Minelli in Cabaret was the height of Weimar decadence, think again', in: The Guardian, London, 23 June 2017
Zafiris, Alex, 'August Sander: The Intimacy of Time', on: www.guernicamag.com, 15 June 2017, ill.
Boyes, Roger, 'The artists who showed the face of Weimar Germany', in: The Times, Saturday Review, London/UK, 10 June 2017, pp. 8n – 9, ill.
Jansen, Charlotte, 'August Sander's ambitiously truthful character studies capture a startling humanity, on: www.wallpaper.com, London/UK, 2 June 2017
Silas, Susan, 'Incorporating Photography into Art History, Starting with August Sander', on: www.hyperallergic.com, New York, 28 March 2017, ill.
Sweeny, Erin, 'Implicit Politics: August Sander and the Fallacy of Objectivity', on: www.magazine.art21.org, New York, 23 March 2017, ill.
Kohler, Michael, 'Wem gehört das Erbe August Sanders?', in: Art, Hamburg/DE, April 2017, p. 140 – 141, ill.
Diamond Hamer, Katy, 'The Archetypes of August Sander, Hauser and Wirth', on: www.eyes-towards-the-dove.com, New York, 20 April 2017, ill.
Evans, Richard, 'Portraying a Nation: Germany 1919 – 1933. In the Eye of', in: Tate Etc, London, May 2017, pp. 44 – 45, ill.
Kennedy, Maev, ' Tate Liverpool to exhibit works of German artists whose lives were shaped by war', on: theguardian.com, London/UK, 18 January 2017

2017 Smyth, Diane, 'The Shadow Archive, vernacular portrait photography at The Walther Collection, NYC', on: bjp-online.com London/UK,13 December 2017, ill.
Jones, Jonathan, 'Portraying a Nation: Germany 1919-1933 – Tate Liverpool', on: theguardian.com, New York, NY, 13 December 2017
Eler, Alicia, ' Artist Omer Fast is drawing protest in N.Y., but only curiosity in Minneapolis', on: http://m.startribune.com/, Minneapolis, 26 October 2017, ill.
Cotter, Holland, 'Omer Fast's Chinatown Installation Is a Misfire', on: nyimes.com, New York, 20 October 2017, ill.
Keane, Tim, 'How August Sander and Otto Dix recorded Fascism's Rise', on: https://hyperallergic.com, New York, 08 October 2017, ill.
du Toit, Wessie, 'Starring at the zeitgeist', on: https://www.apollo-magazine.com/staring-the-zeitgeist-right-in-the-face/, Apollo, 17 August 2017, ill.
Carey-Kent, Paul, 'Portraying a Nation: Germany 1919 – 1933 Tate Liverpool', in: The World of Interiors, London, September 2017, ill.
Wullschlager, Jackie, 'German Art at Tate Liverpool: Reflections on Age of Anxiety', in: Financial Times, London, 30 June 2017.
Januszczak, Waldemar, 'Art review: Germany 1919-1933 at Tate Liverpool', in: The Sunday Times, London, 25 June 2017, ill.
Kent, Sarah, 'Portraying a Nation, Tate Liverpool review – an inspired juxtaposition', on: www.theartdesk.com, Barnet, 26 June 2017, ill.
Cumming, Laura, 'Portraying a Nation: germany 1919-33 review – August Sander and Otto Dix, masters of life and death', on: www.theguardian.com, London, 5 June 2017
___, 'If you thought Liza Minelli in Cabaret was the height of Weimar decadence, think again', in: The Guardian, London, 23 June 2017
Zafiris, Alex, 'August Sander: The Intimacy of Time', on: www.guernicamag.com, 15 June 2017, ill.
Boyes, Roger, 'The artists who showed the face of Weimar Germany', in: The Times, Saturday Review, London/UK, 10 June 2017, pp. 8n – 9, ill.
Jansen, Charlotte, 'August Sander's ambitiously truthful character studies capture a startling humanity, on: www.wallpaper.com, London/UK, 2 June 2017
Silas, Susan, 'Incorporating Photography into Art History, Starting with August Sander', on: www.hyperallergic.com, New York, 28 March 2017, ill.
Sweeny, Erin, 'Implicit Politics: August Sander and the Fallacy of Objectivity', on: www.magazine.art21.org, New York, 23 March 2017, ill.
Kohler, Michael, 'Wem gehört das Erbe August Sanders?', in: Art, Hamburg/DE, April 2017, p. 140 – 141, ill.
Diamond Hamer, Katy, 'The Archetypes of August Sander, Hauser and Wirth', on: www.eyes-towards-the-dove.com, New York, 20 April 2017, ill.
Evans, Richard, 'Portraying a Nation: Germany 1919 – 1933. In the Eye of', in: Tate Etc, London, May 2017, pp. 44 – 45, ill.
Kennedy, Maev, ' Tate Liverpool to exhibit works of German artists whose lives were shaped by war', on: theguardian.com, London/UK, 18 January 2017

2016 Green, Tyler, 'The August Sander Project: Beginning a Five-Year Exploration of Sanders's "People of the Twentieth Century"', on: www.stories.moma.org, 17 November 2016, ill.
Estrin, James, 'A New Look at August Sander's People of the Twentieth Century', on: lens.blogs.nytimes.com, New York, NY, 15 November 2017, ill.
Mercier, Clémentine, 'August Sander regard sans fard', on: next.liberation.fr, Paris/FR, 5 June 2016
Fulford, Robert, 'A tableau of tragedies: August Sander's portraits are the simplest in the history of photography, but also the deepest', on: nationalpost.com, Toronto/CA, 11 April 2016, ill.

2015 Russell, Anna, 'The Art of Dispassion During the Weimar Republic', on: wsj.com, New York/NY, 4 September 2015
Testino, Arianna, 'August Sander e il MoMA. Storia di un'acquisizione', on: artribune.com, Rome/IT, 11 June 2015, ill.
Silverman, Rena, 'Finding the Right Types in August Sander's Germany', on: lens.blogs.nytimes.com, New York/NY, 6 June 2015, ill.
___, 'MoMA kauft deutsche Foto-Sammlung', on: monopol-magazin.de, Berlin/DE, 6 June 2015
Bowley, Graham, 'MoMA Acquires Hundreds of August Sander Photographs', on: nytimes.com, New York/NY, 4 June, 2015, ill.
Bigazzi, Stefano, 'Sander, I volti in bianco e nero della Germania che si transforma', Genoa/IT, 10 April 2015, ill.

2014 Feeney, Mark, 'Portraits with personality – and still lifes with it, too', on: bostonglobe.com, Boston/MA, 12 September 2014, ill.
___, 'August Sander, medio siglo sin el Fotografo del aleman medio', on: elconfidencial.com, Madrid/ES, 19 April 2014, ill.
Friecke, Christiane, 'August Sander. Vollender eines Jahrhundertwerks', in: Photo News, Vol. 3, p. 8, ill.
Kohler, Michael, 'Sein Werk ist noch nicht ausgeschöpft', in: Kölner Stadt-Anzeiger, 14 April 2014, n.p. , ill.

2013 Kabir, Ihtisham, 'Sander's Germans', on: thedailystar.net, Dhaka/BD, 7 September 2013, ill.

2004 Kuspit, Donald, 'Social Propriety and Human Reality', on: artnet.com, New York/NY, 25 May 2004, ill.

August Sander

August Sander

Selected Solo Exhibitions

Selected Group Exhibitions

Monographs

Publications

Press

Behind August Sander’s Portraits

Juergen Teller on August Sander

August Sander: New Women, New Men, and New Identities

August Sander Men Without Masks

August Sander Masterpieces