Artist Database

Jürgen Schadeberg was born in Berlin. In 1950 he emigrated to South Africa and became Chief Photographer, Picture Editor, and Art Director at Drum Magazine. It was during this time that Schadeberg photographed pivotal moments in the lives of South Africans in the fifties. These photographs represent the life and struggle of South Africans during Apartheid and include important figures in South Africa’s history such as Nelson Mandela, Walter Sisulu, Yusuf Dadoo, and many others. He documented key moments such as the Defiance Campaign of 1952; the Treason Trial of 1958; the Sophiatown Removals and the Sharpeville Funeral in 1960. Schadeberg is a principal figure in South African and World Photography. His major body of work, which spans 70 years and incorporates a collection of some 200,000 negatives, captures a wealth of iconic images that push for social change.