David Goldblatt pictures, story
VETERAN photographer David Goldblatt’s death has been described as a significant loss to the global art world.
President Cyril Ramaphosa said Goldblatt was one of South Africa’s most celebrated and internationally acclaimed documentary photographers.
He expressed his condolences on the death of the recipient of the National Order of Ikhamanga.
“We have lost yet another of our own celebrated photographers, who through the lens built a reputation as one of the country’s leading documenters of the struggles of our people.
“He captured the social and moral value systems that portrayed South Africa during a period of apartheid… in order to influence its changing political landscape.
“Our country remains proud of his contribution to the portrayal of its life through the medium of photography and for leaving an indelible mark in our inclusive literary culture.
“We wish to convey our heartfelt condolences to his family. May his soul rest in peace,” said Ramaphosa.
Goldblatt, 87, died yesterday at his home in Joburg and will be buried at 12pm today at the Westpark Cemetery in Braamfontein, in the Jewish section.
Goldblatt’s career in photojournalism began in 1948, capturing the structures, people and landscapes.
He got married in 1955, to his wife Lily.
Not wanting to bring up their three children in a racist society, they decided to emigrate to Israel but these plans were halted following Goldblatt’s father being diagnosed with cancer.
Over the course of his career, Goldblatt’s photographs and poignant images of the brutal apartheid regime were exhibited widely in newspapers and museums around the world, said the Goodman Gallery in a statement.
In 1989, Goldblatt founded the Market Photography Workshop in Johannesburg.
A year earlier, he was the first South African to be given a solo exhibition at the Museum of Modern Art in New York.
In 2001, a retrospective of his work, David Goldblatt Fifty-One Years, began a tour of galleries and museums.
Goldblatt’s received the most prestigious photography award in 2006, the Hasselblad Foundation Award in photography, and his work was exhibited and collected in some of the leading galleries around the world.
His relationship with the Goodman Gallery spanned over 70 years, where his body of work has been extensively exhibited.
Paying tribute to Goldblatt, the gallery’s director Liza Essers said: “David was a dear friend and I will miss him very much.
‘‘I am privileged to have known him and (we) worked closely together for the past decade.
A legend, a teacher, a national icon, a man of absolute integrity
‘‘In that time, David offered me his unwavering support, commitment and mentorship.
“A legend, a teacher, a national icon and a man of absolute integrity has passed. (We) will continue to represent David’s legacy and estate and will do so with the honour, respect and responsibility that this privilege deserves,” she said.
Tributes to his family continued pouring in on social media with some sharing their fond memories of Goldblatt.
Former Cape Times photographer Benny Gool described Goldblatt as a legend.
“I did not know David very well but met him frequently during the turbulent times, when there was a camaraderie between photographers.
“We watched each other’s back. For many of us young photojournalists who knew his work, he was hero-worshipped and was who we wanted to be,” he said.
Following his funeral, prayers will be held at 5:15pm at the Goodman Gallery at 163 Jan Smuts Avenue, Parkwood, Johannesburg.