Josef Sudek, one of the most renowned Czechoslovakian photographers of the 20th century, spent his entire life working in Prague. Initially trained as a bookbinder, Sudek turned to photography after losing his right hand during World War I. He pursued formal education in photography at the State School of Graphic Art from 1922 to 1924, and co-founded the avant-garde Czech Society of Photography with Jaromír Funke.

In 1928, Sudek established his own photographic business, creating commercial work, portraits, poetic landscapes, and street scenes of Prague, including a notable series shot from his studio window. His work was deeply influenced by Impressionism, Pictorialism, and Czech Poetism, yet he consistently adhered to his own introspective and emotive style.

During World War II, Sudek lived in seclusion, producing a remarkable collection of personal, brooding black and white still lifes that uniquely captured light and reflection. From the 1930s onwards, his photographs were widely exhibited, with retrospectives at prestigious institutions such as George Eastman House, Rochester (1974), the International Center of Photography, New York (1977), and the Philadelphia Museum of Art (1990).

In 1961, Josef Sudek was honored as the first recipient of the “Artist of Merit” award from the Czech government, recognizing his significant contributions to the field of photography.