documentary photography



Bernhard (Bernd) Becher and Hilla Becher were German conceptual artists and photographers working as a collaborative duo. They are best known for their extensive series of photographic images, or typologies, of industrial buildings and structures, often organised in grids. As the founders of what has come to be known as the 'Becher school' or the 'Düsseldorf School' they influenced generations of documentary photographers and artists. They have been awarded the Erasmus Prize and the Hasselblad Award.


Bernhard (Bernd) Becher and Hilla Becher were German conceptual artists and photographers working as a collaborative duo. They are best known for their extensive series of photographic images, or typologies, of industrial buildings and structures, often organised in grids. As the founders of what has come to be known as the 'Becher school' or the 'Düsseldorf School' they influenced generations of documentary photographers and artists. They have been awarded the Erasmus Prize and the Hasselblad Award.


Bernhard (Bernd) Becher and Hilla Becher were German conceptual artists and photographers working as a collaborative duo. They are best known for their extensive series of photographic images, or typologies, of industrial buildings and structures, often organised in grids. As the founders of what has come to be known as the 'Becher school' or the 'Düsseldorf School' they influenced generations of documentary photographers and artists. They have been awarded the Erasmus Prize and the Hasselblad Award.




William Eggleston is an American photographer. He is widely credited with increasing recognition for color photography as a legitimate artistic medium. Eggleston's books include William Eggleston's Guide (1976) and The Democratic Forest (1989).


William Eggleston is an American photographer. He is widely credited with increasing recognition for color photography as a legitimate artistic medium. Eggleston's books include William Eggleston's Guide (1976) and The Democratic Forest (1989).


Walker Evans was an American photographer and photojournalist best known for his work for the Farm Security Administration (FSA) documenting the effects of the Great Depression. Much of Evans' work from the FSA period uses the large-format, 8×10-inch (200×250 mm) view camera. He said that his goal as a photographer was to make pictures that are "literate, authoritative, transcendent".
Many of his works are in the permanent collections of museums and have been the subject of retrospectives at such institutions as the Metropolitan Museum of Art or the George Eastman Museum.


Andreas Gursky, a German photographer born in 1955, is renowned for his large format architectural and landscape color photographs, which often feature a high vantage point. Gursky's work has garnered attention for its unique perspective on modern life and contemporary scenes, capturing the grandeur and intricacy of his subjects with a meticulous eye for detail. His pieces, such as "Rhein II" and "99 Cent II Diptychon," showcase his skill in transforming ordinary locales into extraordinary visual narratives, often with the aid of digital manipulation to enhance and refine the final image.
Andreas Gursky's photography is celebrated for its ability to capture the essence of globalization and the human impact on the environment, presenting scenes that are both familiar and alien in their scope and detail. His work has been exhibited worldwide and is held in high esteem in the art market, with some of his pieces achieving record-breaking auction prices.
For art collectors and experts, Andreas Gursky's photographs offer a profound commentary on the world we live in, blending technical prowess with a deep conceptual framework. His exhibitions and publications provide insight into his creative process and the evolution of his artistic vision.
To stay updated on Andreas Gursky's latest exhibitions and works, consider subscribing to updates from renowned art galleries or institutions that feature contemporary photography.


Candida Höfer is a German photographer. She is a former student of Bernd and Hilla Becher. Like other Becher students, Höfer's work is known for technical perfection and a strictly conceptual approach. From 1997 to 2000, she taught as professor at the Hochschule für Gestaltung, Karlsruhe. Höfer is the recipient of the 2018 Outstanding Contribution to Photography award, as part of the Sony World Photography awards. She is based in Cologne.




Walker Evans was an American photographer and photojournalist best known for his work for the Farm Security Administration (FSA) documenting the effects of the Great Depression. Much of Evans' work from the FSA period uses the large-format, 8×10-inch (200×250 mm) view camera. He said that his goal as a photographer was to make pictures that are "literate, authoritative, transcendent".
Many of his works are in the permanent collections of museums and have been the subject of retrospectives at such institutions as the Metropolitan Museum of Art or the George Eastman Museum.


Thomas Struth is a German photographer who is best known for his Museum Photographs series, family portraits and black and white photographs of the streets of Düsseldorf and New York taken in the 1970s. Struth lives and works in Berlin and New York.


Robert Heinecken was an American artist and educator. He is known for his pioneering work in the field of photography, particularly his use of found images and his experimentation with photographic processes.
Heinecken studied at the University of California, Los Angeles, and later became a professor of art at UCLA, where he taught for over 30 years. He exhibited his work extensively throughout his career, including at the Museum of Modern Art in New York, the Whitney Museum of American Art, and the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art.
Heinecken's work often involved appropriating images from mass media sources, such as magazines and television, and recontextualizing them in his art. He was also known for his "paraphotography," a term he coined to describe his use of photographic materials and techniques to create works that were not necessarily photographs in the traditional sense. For example, he would use photographic paper to create abstract, three-dimensional sculptures, or he would manipulate images with chemicals to create surreal, dreamlike compositions.
Heinecken's work has been praised for its critical engagement with the role of photography in contemporary culture, as well as its wit, playfulness, and subversive edge. He was a major influence on the development of conceptual art and postmodernism in the United States, and his legacy continues to be felt in contemporary art today.




Walker Evans was an American photographer and photojournalist best known for his work for the Farm Security Administration (FSA) documenting the effects of the Great Depression. Much of Evans' work from the FSA period uses the large-format, 8×10-inch (200×250 mm) view camera. He said that his goal as a photographer was to make pictures that are "literate, authoritative, transcendent".
Many of his works are in the permanent collections of museums and have been the subject of retrospectives at such institutions as the Metropolitan Museum of Art or the George Eastman Museum.


Walker Evans was an American photographer and photojournalist best known for his work for the Farm Security Administration (FSA) documenting the effects of the Great Depression. Much of Evans' work from the FSA period uses the large-format, 8×10-inch (200×250 mm) view camera. He said that his goal as a photographer was to make pictures that are "literate, authoritative, transcendent".
Many of his works are in the permanent collections of museums and have been the subject of retrospectives at such institutions as the Metropolitan Museum of Art or the George Eastman Museum.


Andreas Gursky, a German photographer born in 1955, is renowned for his large format architectural and landscape color photographs, which often feature a high vantage point. Gursky's work has garnered attention for its unique perspective on modern life and contemporary scenes, capturing the grandeur and intricacy of his subjects with a meticulous eye for detail. His pieces, such as "Rhein II" and "99 Cent II Diptychon," showcase his skill in transforming ordinary locales into extraordinary visual narratives, often with the aid of digital manipulation to enhance and refine the final image.
Andreas Gursky's photography is celebrated for its ability to capture the essence of globalization and the human impact on the environment, presenting scenes that are both familiar and alien in their scope and detail. His work has been exhibited worldwide and is held in high esteem in the art market, with some of his pieces achieving record-breaking auction prices.
For art collectors and experts, Andreas Gursky's photographs offer a profound commentary on the world we live in, blending technical prowess with a deep conceptual framework. His exhibitions and publications provide insight into his creative process and the evolution of his artistic vision.
To stay updated on Andreas Gursky's latest exhibitions and works, consider subscribing to updates from renowned art galleries or institutions that feature contemporary photography.


Brassaï, whose real name was Gyula Halász, was a Hungarian-French artist and photographer best known for his work documenting the streets of Paris during the 1920s and 1930s. He was one of the key figures of the Surrealist movement and his work continues to influence photographers and artists to this day.
Brassaï moved to Paris in the 1920s to pursue a career in art. He initially worked as a journalist and began taking photographs to accompany his articles. However, it was his nocturnal photographs of the city that would bring him international fame.
Brassaï's photographs of the streets of Paris at night captured the city's seedier side, including its prostitutes, bars, and cabarets. His work is known for its use of dramatic lighting and strong contrast, which helped to create a moody, evocative atmosphere.
In addition to his photography, Brassaï was also a talented painter and sculptor. He was a close friend of many of the leading artists and writers of the time, including Pablo Picasso, Salvador Dalí, and Henry Miller.
Brassaï's work has been exhibited in major museums and galleries around the world, and his photographs have been published in numerous books and magazines. He was one of the most influential photographers of the 20th century, and his legacy continues to inspire artists and photographers today.


Henri Cartier-Bresson was a French artist renowned for his groundbreaking work in photography, particularly in the realms of photojournalism and street photography. Born on August 22, 1908, in Chanteloup, France, Cartier-Bresson's early artistic endeavors were in painting, which he began studying at the age of five. His transition to photography was marked by his adoption of a 35mm Leica camera in 1931, a tool that became synonymous with his work.
Henri Cartier-Bresson's photography is celebrated for its unique blend of spontaneity and composition, capturing moments that reveal deeper truths about their subjects. His theory of "the decisive moment" – that is, capturing an event that is ephemeral and spontaneous, yet significant – has had a profound influence on the field of photography. His work has been exhibited in prestigious venues such as the Museum of Modern Art in New York and is held in high esteem in art collections worldwide.
In addition to his personal achievements, Henri Cartier-Bresson was a co-founder of Magnum Photos in 1947, a cooperative agency for worldwide photographers that significantly influenced photojournalism. Later in his career, Cartier-Bresson returned to painting and drawing, demonstrating his lifelong commitment to the arts.
For art collectors and experts, Henri Cartier-Bresson's work offers a pivotal exploration of 20th-century photography, blending artistic vision with the unguarded moments of life. His influence extends beyond his images, shaping the way we perceive and engage with visual narratives.
To explore more about Henri Cartier-Bresson's influential career and works, and to stay updated on exhibitions or sales featuring his photography, you might consider subscribing to updates from art institutions or galleries that frequently showcase his work.

































































