May 25, 2025

The Witness: Sebastiao Salgado

Sad to hear that the great photojournalist, Sebastiao Salgado, died on May 23rd at 81. I loved his dramatic black-and-white work, influenced, he said, by Walker Evans and W. Eugene Smith. But mainly what his photography said about an artist committed to social justice.
His family’s statement described him best: “Through the lens of his camera, Sebastião tirelessly fought for a more just, humane & ecological world. Rich in humanistic content, this work offers a sensitive perspective on the most disadvantaged populations & addresses the environmental issues threatening our planet.” Slagado said to The Guardian in 2024: “Why should the poor world be uglier than the rich world? The light here is the same as there. The dignity here is the same as there.” Salgado developed severe leukaemia due to complications from malaria that he contracted in Indonesia in 2010.