Who is Sebastião Salgado?

A brief introduction to one of the most important social documentary photographers of our time.

Sebastião Salgado is a Brazilian social documentary photographer. He is known for his black-and-white photographs that document the human condition and the impact of globalization on communities around the world. He is widely considered one of the most important social documentary photographers of our time.

Salgado began his career as an economist before turning to photography in the 1970s. He has documented a wide range of social and political issues, including the exploitation of workers, the plight of refugees, and the effects of war and natural disasters. His most famous works include the series "Workers" and "Migrations" which depicted the human condition of the poor people of the world.

Salgado's photographs are characterized by their powerful compositions, dramatic lighting, and a deep sense of empathy for his subjects. He has been honoured with numerous awards for his work, including the Hasselblad Foundation International Award in Photography and the W. Eugene Smith Memorial Fund Award.

Salgado's work has been exhibited in major museums and galleries around the world and his photographs are held in the collections of many major institutions, including the Museum of Modern Art in New York and the National Museum of Brazil. He has also written and published several books of his photographs, among them "Migrations" and "Workers".

Salgado's photographs are not only a visual representation of the human condition but also a testimony of the world's social and political issues, they aim to raise awareness and promote change. His work has been widely influential and has had a significant impact on the development of documentary photography.