Skip to main content

Gerichtdiener

August Sander

Artwork Details

Gerichtdiener
1932; printed circa 1950-1970
August Sander
gelatin silver print on paper
6 1/16 in x 4 3/8 in (15.4 cm x 11.11 cm)
Gift of Maxine and Lawrence K. Snider
2012/2.105

Description

Subject Matter:

In Sander's portraits of types of German citizens, this image is listed under the section “The Official” in the "Classes and Professions" category. The court usher stands in the doorway of the court, holding the door. Facing the camera, he appears to greet the viewer while appearing solemn in his profession. This photograph appears in Sander’s lifelong work Citizens of the Twentieth Century. In this series, Sander aspired to create a comprehensive anthology of Germany by photographing all aspects of society, as he believed in the portrait as a true representation of a society. The Nazis found this work in opposition to their narrow ideals. In 1934 they destroyed Sander’s plates and banned him from making portraits, however many of his negatives survived.

Physical Description:

This photograph show a man standing inside of a court house. He is fully dressed in a uniform, standing in a doorway.

Usage Rights:

If you are interested in using an image for a publication, please visit https://umma.umich.edu/request-image/ for more information and to fill out the online Image Rights and Reproductions Request Form.