August Sander: People of the 20th Century (7 volumes set)

Revered as a father of modern photography, August Sander (1876– 1964) so refined the art of portraiture that his moving images of his fellow countrymen have been heralded both as an important sociological document and a photographic masterpiece. But those images make up only a portion of this deluxe seven-volume set, which will stand as the definitive collection of Sander’s considerable achievement.

The books include some 150 never-before-seen images and essays by leading experts on the German photographer’s work. Praising Sander’s “vision . . . his knowledge, and his immense photographic talent,” the writer Alfred Döblin said: “Those who know how to look will learn from his clear and powerful photographs, and will discover more about themselves and more about others.”