Stanislav Sucharda – photography and sculpture

This work focuses on a photographic archive of a czech sculptor Stanislav Sucharda (1866-1916). Stanislav Sucharda was one of the leaders of modern Czech sculpture. The aim of the work is to investigate and analyze a part of the private fund related to photographic reproductions of Sucharda's sculptures and work. The collection shows a wide range of photographic techniques and materials. Counting both glass negatives and plastic negatives, photographic positive techniques including albumen prints, colloid prints and various types of silver-gelatin prints. On negatives and positives there are secondary interventions. There are framing, varnish, retouching or photocollages. The photo collection is not classified according to any code, chronological or thematic distribution is missing. The aim will be trying to find links between sculpture models and photographs. Determining the purpose for which the photographs were taken should create a mosaic of Stanislav Sucharda's work with photographs. I would like to compare this archive with archives in art institutions, which have photographs associated with Stanislav Sucharda in their funds. On the basis of the research, the thesis will be confirmed or refuted that this part of the private-owned photographical collection of the Stanislav Sucharda's Foundation was used by the sculptor purely for his creative activities and were not the representations of his work. Consequently, the key role of photographing Sucharda's sculpture and the confirmation of whether Stanislav Sucharda himself photographed will be the key outline. In exploring the possibilities of Stanislav Sucharda's work and his co-operation with photographs, I will use the approach of comparison with Auguste Rodin's photographic collection, who was Sucharda's friend