An experienced South African photographer noted for his portrayal of South Africa during the period of apartheid, David Goldblatt, passed away on Monday at the age of 87.

Robin Scher from the Goodman Gallery confirmed to News24 that Goldblatt passed away in the early hours of Monday morning.

In a statement, director of Goodman Gallery Liza Essers said: "David was a dear friend and I will miss him very much. I am privileged to have known him and worked closely together for the past decade. In that time, David offered me his unwavering support, commitment and mentorship.

"David’s passing is a significant loss to South Africa and the global art world. A legend, a teacher, a national icon, and a man of absolute integrity has passed. 

"Goodman Gallery will continue to represent David’s legacy and estate and will do so with the honour, respect and responsibility that this privilege deserves." 

She told him: "You'll be the driver and i'll be the lady", then they grabbed the car bumper and posed, Hillbrow, 1975 © David Goldblatt pic.twitter.com/v89aooODyu

— phot(o)lia (@photoliax) June 25,2018

Goldblatt will be laid to rest on Tuesday at 12:00 at the Westpark Cemetery in Johannesburg.  Essers said following the funeral, prayers will be held at the Goodman Gallery in Parkwood, Johannesburg at 17:15. 

Career

Born in Randfontein, Goldblatt's decades-long career launched in 1948 and he became best known for documenting events unfolding in South Africa throughout apartheid, according to the Mail & Guardian

The famed photographer was the recipient of many prestigious awards throughout his life, including the Hasselblad Award in 2006 and the Henri Cartier-Bresson Award in 2009, Netwerk24 reports

The Henri Cartier-Bresson Award recognises an artist "whose work is influenced by the documentary approach" and is awarded every two years by an international jury.

Deeply saddened to hear about the passing of #DavidGolblatt. A fine photographer, he was also an artist, journalist, historian. He documented the powerful as well as the powerless. Here his iconic pic of@CyrilRamphosa and Roelf Meyer during the #Codesa negotiations. pic.twitter.com/TW72ag0FUX

— Pippa Green (@green_pippa) June 25, 2018

The Goodman Gallery houses and exhibits a great deal of his life’s work. It said recently an agreement with Yale was signed, transferring Goldblatt’s entire archive of negatives to the university. 

The Gallery also added that a digital archive of his work will be created in South Africa and made available to the public for free through an initiative named the Photographic Legacy Project.

Goldblatt is survived by his wife Lily, three children and two grandchildren.