In Memoriam: Sebastião Salgado
Sebastião Salgado, the renowned Brazilian photographer and environmentalist celebrated for his profound black-and-white imagery, passed away on May 23, 2025, at the American Hospital in Paris. He was 81. His death was confirmed by Instituto Terra, the environmental foundation he established with his wife, Lélia Wanick Salgado, along with the French Académie des Beaux Arts. The circumstances surrounding his death remain undisclosed.
A pioneering figure, Salgado traveled through over 120 countries, capturing the stark realities of impoverished communities, conflicts, and the breathtaking beauty of untouched landscapes. His work not only documented the struggles and resilience of humanity but also served as a witness to the environmental crises facing our planet. His photography became a form of visual testimony, one that invoked the moral weight of the subjects within his frames.
Early Life and Career
Born on February 8, 1944, in Aimorés, Minas Gerais, Brazil, Salgado grew up on a cattle ranch. Initially pursuing a career in economics, he attained a doctorate from the University of Paris. Salgado's photographic journey began in the 1970s while working for the International Coffee Organization, where he first documented labor and rural life across Africa. What started as a mere hobby rapidly transformed into his life's calling.
By 1973, he transitioned to photography full time, quickly rising through the ranks of various notable photo agencies, including Sygma, Gamma, and later Magnum Photos. In 1994, he and Lélia founded Amazonas Images in Paris, a move that secured his artistic freedom to explore complex, long-term projects that intertwined photojournalism with profound social consciousness.
A Master of Photographic Essays
Salgado's renowned photographic essays—
- Workers (1993):
- Migrations (2000):
- Genesis (2013):
Artistic Philosophy and Later Life
His iconic black-and-white imagery was more than just an aesthetic choice; it eliminated distractions, directing the viewer’s attention towards shape, emotion, and texture. Salgado’s work drew comparisons to legendary photographers like Ansel Adams for its environmental focus and to Dorothea Lange and Lewis Hine for its social impact.
Over his career, Salgado received numerous accolades, including the Hasselblad Award and the W. Eugene Smith Memorial Fund Grant. His artistic contributions were further immortalized through the Oscar-nominated documentary, The Salt of the Earth, co-directed by Wim Wenders and his son, Juliano Ribeiro Salgado.
Despite often being associated with depictions of suffering, Salgado approached his work with a hopeful and empathetic lens. In the 1990s, after years of photographing famine and conflict, he returned to Brazil disillusioned, only to find his childhood woods decimated. Rather than yield to despair, he and Lélia launched Instituto Terra in 1998, restoring 1,700 acres of degraded land through extensive reforestation and sustainable practices.
Enduring Legacy
Beyond documenting suffering and struggle, Salgado sought to instill a deep empathy for his subjects, transforming them from statistics into dignified human beings. His vision challenged critics who accused him of romanticizing poverty, asserting that beauty exists in all forms of life.
Salgado is survived by Lélia and their two sons, Juliano and Rodrigo. In his reflections, Salgado consistently acknowledged Lélia’s pivotal role, stating, “Without her, none of this would have been possible.”
The world continues to honor Salgado’s legacy, which remains as vast as the landscapes he captured and as enduring as the forests he helped grow. His work will undoubtedly endure in galleries and libraries, serving as a poignant reminder of our interconnectedness and responsibility to the planet. His unwavering belief in humanity’s ability to heal, combined with vision and courage, leaves a meaningful message for generations to come.
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