Josef Sudek is a Czech photographer. In 1968, the Sheldon mounted Five Photographers, a group exhibition featuring 19 prints. Sudek was featured in this exhibit.

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Sudek wasn’t the only photographer in this exhibition, but this was the first time a U.S. museum had exhibited Sudek’s photographs.  Sudek was born on March 17, 1896 in Kolin, Bohemia. He was drafted into the First World War in the Austro-Hungarian Army in 1915.

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During the war, one of Sudek's arms was amputated. Sudek was relieved from the army, so he decided to focus on photography as a source of income. He quietly observed his surroundings despite the ongoing of the Nazi and Soviet occupation.  

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He never showed up to any display gallery that featured his work on exhibition. Only a few known people were ever included in his photography. Sudek’s photography was never officially titled, but his audience said it was modern.