From Prague to Ottawa, Josef Sudek’s photos

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Josef Sudek, Labyrinthe dur ma table, 1967,

Josef Sudek, Labyrinthe sur ma table, 1967, Musée des Beaux Arts du Canada, Ottawa

There is something incredibly dark about Josef Sudek’s photography, but this survivor of the First World War and the Czech communist regime, is definitely admirable.

Josef Sudek, Rue de Prague, 1924, Musée des Beaux Arts du Canada, Ottawa

Josef Sudek, Rue de Prague, 1924, Musée des Beaux Arts du Canada, Ottawa

Born in 1896, in the Hungarian Austrian empire, he fought in the First World War and lost his right arm in 1917. He was hospitalized in Prague, and stayed there until his death. He lived through the independence of the country in 1918, and finished his life there in 1976 at 80, working steadily through the different regimes and carrying his heavy photographic equipment with just one arm.

He is the most famous Czech photographer, and was exhibited in the US, and now is part of the collections of a Canadian museum. All the photographs exhibited at Jeu de Paume (until September 25) come from the National gallery of Canada, in Ottawa.

Josef Sudek, La dernière rose, 1956, Musée des beaux Arts du Canada, Ottawa

Josef Sudek, La dernière rose, 1956, Musée des beaux Arts du Canada, Ottawa

The 130 pictures are in black and white and light is obviously the main theme of the exhibition. Or rather the lack of light. Prague at night, views from the artist’s window in the mist, still lives on a grey background.

The exhibition is not exhilarating, but the works shot during this very long historical period between the 1920’s and the 1970’s, are very striking. I particularly like his views of river Elbe in the 1950’s and strange daily objects treated like sculptures.
Musée du Jeu de Paume is located in the Tuileries gardens on rue de Rivoli, and it is a lovely place to grab a sandwich outdoors while watching the obelisk of Place de la Concorde…After you see the darkness of Sudek’s art, you can rush to the Orangerie next door and have a look at Monet’s Waterlilies… a lovely double bill.

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