Accession Number
2012/2.105

Title
Gerichtdiener

Artist(s)
August Sander

Artist Nationality
German (culture or style)

Object Creation Date
1932; printed circa 1950-1970

Medium & Support
gelatin silver print on paper

Dimensions
6 1/16 in x 4 3/8 in (15.4 cm x 11.11 cm)

Credit Line
Gift of Maxine and Lawrence K. Snider

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.

Primary Object Classification
Photograph

Collection Area
Photography

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

Keywords
German (culture or style)
courthouses
doorways
hats
male
officials
portraits
standing