Josef Koudelka's Diaries Reveal His Life Documenting Europe's Margins

The Financial Times reviews the published diaries of Czech photographer Josef Koudelka, offering an intimate look at the artist who spent decades documenting Roma communities and other marginalized groups across Europe. The diaries, spanning from the 1960s onward, provide insight into his nomadic existence and his belief that 'home doesn't exist.' Koudelka, born in 1938 in Moravia, is best known for his iconic images of the 1968 Soviet invasion of Prague and his later panoramic landscapes. The review highlights his relentless pursuit of authenticity and his avoidance of commercial success, preferring to live on the fringes of society to capture its rawest moments. The diaries were compiled and edited by art historian and curator Helena Třeštíková, who worked with Koudelka to select entries that reveal his creative process and personal philosophy. The publication coincides with a renewed interest in Koudelka's work, with major exhibitions planned at the Museum of Modern Art in New York and the Centre Pompidou in Paris in 2025.