August Sander’s “People of the 20th Century”

August Sander’s “People of the 20th Century” is a collection of photos of a wide range of people from what looks to be the early 1900’s. The collection shows people from all walks of life, ages, and situations. In particular, an image of two males drew my attention. The two individuals, dressed in suits (complete with black ties and waistcoats), are certainly child-sized. The image stands out because despite their clearly small stature, it is hard to ascertain if they’re actually children or if they suffer from some form of dwarfism.  

Their age is difficult to determine because their faces have an unmistakable aged look to them. They possess the eyes of someone much older looking. When taking the time period into context, it wouldn’t be a stretch for two young boys to be dressed up as they are. Also, in the earl 1900’s childhood wasn’t a developed concept as it is today, so children would be expected to work as adults. The added stress of working could be responsible for the aged look the subjects of the image have.

It’s the many uncertainties that make the image so fascinating. The blurred background prevents any context, so we can only really see the two subjects. I’m left to wonder why they are dressed up, and what they could have done in their short lives that have aged their faces into adulthood. If they were already working, then they were likely poor, which raises another question as to how they afforded their clothing (which is relatively formal by today’s standards). Or could it be that they’re dressed normally for their time? It is simultaneously aggravating and fascinating that one image can spur so much wonder. The aggravation stems from the fact that the questions will remain unanswered, as there is likely no information on the subjects of the photo besides what you can see.