David Goldblatt: A South African Photographer Who Captured Life Under Apartheid
Early Life and Influences
David Goldblatt, born in 1930 in a mining town near Johannesburg, came of age during the rise of the National Party. The party’s apartheid policies systematically marginalized non-white South Africans.
Against this backdrop, Goldblatt developed an interest in photography, inspired by magazines like Life and Picture Post. He initially aspired to become a magazine photographer but shifted his focus to documenting the struggle against apartheid.
Documenting Apartheid
Goldblatt’s photographs captured the everyday realities of life under apartheid. He avoided violent events, instead focusing on the subtle but pervasive ways in which discrimination shaped people’s lives.
One of his most iconic images, taken in 1965, depicts a white boy standing next to his black nursemaid, Heimweeberg. The barbed wire fence in the background symbolizes the divisions imposed by apartheid.
Goldblatt’s 1989 book, “The Transported of KwaNdebele,” documents the long and arduous commute that black South Africans endured to reach city centers from the segregated areas where they were forced to live.
International Recognition and Legacy
Goldblatt’s work gained international recognition. In 1998, he became the first South African artist to have a solo show at the Museum of Modern Art (MOMA) in New York. His photographs have been exhibited in museums worldwide.
Before his death, Goldblatt bequeathed his archive of negatives to Yale University. This decision was controversial, as he had previously promised the collection to the University of Cape Town. He withdrew his collection after student protestors burned campus artworks deemed to be “colonial symbols.”
Goldblatt’s work continues to inspire and challenge viewers. His commitment to documenting the injustices of apartheid and his belief in the power of dialogue and democracy remain relevant today.
Goldblatt’s Photographic Style
Goldblatt primarily worked in black-and-white, believing that color was too “sweet” to convey the harsh realities of apartheid. In the 1990s, he began experimenting with color, but his mission to capture South Africa through a lens of integrity and morality remained unchanged.
Goldblatt described himself as a “plodder,” consistently pursuing his photographic vision over decades. His work reflects a deep understanding of the social and political dynamics of his country.
Goldblatt’s Impact on South African Society
Goldblatt’s photographs played a significant role in shaping the world’s understanding of apartheid. His images exposed the brutality and absurdity of the system, contributing to the international pressure that eventually led to its downfall.
Goldblatt’s work continues to resonate with South Africans today. It serves as a reminder of the country’s past and a catalyst for ongoing conversations about race, inequality, and the importance of reconciliation.
