August Sander, one of the most significant photographers of the 20th century, was born 149 years ago in Herdorf, Germany. While his work has gained international recognition, it remains relatively unknown in his home region of Westerwald. A new exhibition aims to change this situation and honor Sander's extraordinary legacy.
Sander is widely regarded as a pioneer of portrait photography and ranks among the most outstanding photographers of his era. However, his name remains unfamiliar to many young people in the Altenkirchen district, despite his deep roots in the region. This local connection is reflected in the naming of various schools and institutions throughout the area.
The Realschule plus and the specialized high school for design in Altenkirchen both bear his name, and the district building houses a dedicated Sander room. Additionally, the brodverein e.V. organization developed the Sander Trail between Hasselbach and Kuchhausen as a tribute to the photographer. During World War II, Sander moved a large portion of his photographic archive to safety in Kuchhausen, where he lived until shortly before his death.
Throughout his time in the region, Sander regularly roamed the surrounding villages with his camera, capturing images of local people and landscapes. Despite these strong regional connections, his work is not as well-known in his Westerwald homeland as his international significance would warrant.
The project "Paths to Sander," initiated by a partnership including the Wortelkamp Foundation, the municipality of Windeck, and the Altenkirchen District Adult Education Center, seeks to address this knowledge gap. With support from the German Museum Association and funding from the Federal Ministry of Education, the partnership has launched an art education program specifically designed for young people. The program's goal is to explore Sander's lesser-known photographs from the Westerwald region.
Participating youth engaged intensively and experimentally with Sander's work through various approaches, ranging from historical education using camera obscura techniques to artistic methods including landscape painting and printing experiments with cyanotype photography. These diverse workshops allowed students to connect with Sander's artistic vision through hands-on creative experiences.
The results of these educational workshops will be displayed in an exhibition at the District Adult Education Center through December 19. The opening reception is scheduled for November 17 at 6:00 PM at the District Adult Education Center, coinciding with August Sander's birthday. All interested individuals are cordially invited to attend and discover the work of this exceptional photographer.
