August Sander 'In Focus'

German photographer, August Sander, born 17 November 1876, spent more than four decades documenting the German people during the aftermath of the war. This was a period of great social, political and cultural uproar. He was described as the most important German portrait photographer of the twentieth century. He joined the ‘Group of Progressive artists’the society of the Weimar Republic in a series of portraits.  The portraits consist of all different types of people such as the farmer, tradesmen,artists, women, different classes, homeless and veterans. The people in his work are always against a simple background. Their clothes, gesture,  hair style ect are the clues as to who they are and what their profession is. I find his work really touching. There’s something about his portraits that makes me sympathise with the people. Sometimes it’s something as simple as their facial expression that does it.

I love this image. It makes mme wonder how the child has stayed on the bike. It touches me seeing the dog looking up at the camera as if it's seen someone and is being  protective over the baby. 

 This girl is in a carnival but what affects me about this picture is how unhappy she is. The framing tells me that she wants to escape.

http://www.moma.org/collection/artist.php?artist_id=514seumIn
 In Focus, August Sander, The J. Paul Getty Museum