Andreas Gursky is a contemporary German photographer known for his large-scale, digitally manipulated images that often depict vast landscapes, crowded urban scenes, and complex architectural spaces. He was born on January 15, 1955, in Leipzig, East Germany.

Gursky is renowned for his meticulous attention to detail and his ability to transform ordinary subjects into mesmerizing visual experiences through his use of scale, composition, and digital manipulation techniques. His photographs often feature striking patterns, repetition, and symmetry, inviting viewers to contemplate the relationship between humans and their environments in the modern world.

One of Gursky’s most famous works is “Rhein II,” a photograph of the Rhine River that he digitally altered to remove all signs of human activity, creating a serene and minimalist depiction of the landscape. In 2011, “Rhein II” sold for over $4 million, making it the most expensive photograph ever sold at the time.

Throughout his career, Gursky has explored a wide range of subjects, from stock exchanges and factories to natural landscapes and crowded public spaces. His images challenge traditional notions of photography and raise questions about the nature of representation, reality, and perception in the digital age.

Gursky’s work has been exhibited in major museums and galleries around the world, and he is widely regarded as one of the most important photographers of his generation. His innovative approach to photography continues to inspire and influence artists and photographers today.