Then and Now Photos Show People as Young Adults and at 100 Years Old

Jan Langer Faces of Century Then-and-Now Photos 100 Years Old

Antonín Kovář, 25 years old and 102 years old

In his sentimental series, Faces of Century, Opava-based photographer Jan Langer visually presents the inevitable changes that accompany aging. With 100-year-old Czechs as his muses, Langer explores the effects of time through a collection of then-and-now photos.

Faces of Century is composed of several pairs of photographs. Each coupled combination depicts the same person as a young adult and as a centenarian. To adequately showcase the changes evident in each individual's appearance, the subjects recreate the poses present in the older photographs. By providing these side-by-side comparisons, Langer allows viewers to discern the visual similarities and differences between the photos. “Time is shrinking,” Langer comments, “as are the faces of the elders.”

In addition to exhibiting aging's physical effects, Langer also delves into the psychological side of getting older. Each photo is accompanied by a brief biography of the subject, listing his or her former occupation, current place of residence, hobbies, status of his or her family relationship, an unforgettable memory, and his or her wishes. By asking each individual questions related to these topics, he is able to comprehend how the inner-workings of their minds have changed. Similarly, this supplementary text provides a more in-depth and intimate portrait of each individual.

“I wondered what changes and what remains on a human face and in a human mind in such a long time, and in such a short while in relative terms,” the photographer ponders. “I wondered how much loneliness of the old age weighs, and what memories stay in 100-year-old mind.”

You can see the entire series and read about each individual on Langer' website.

See what it's like to be 100 years old through these then-and-now-photos from Jan Langer's series, Faces of Century.

Jan Langer Faces of Century Then-and-Now Photos 100 Years Old

Marie Burešová, 23 years old and 101 years old

Jan Langer Faces of Century Then-and-Now Photos 100 Years Old

Prokop Vejdělek, 22 years old and 101 years old

Jan Langer Faces of Century Then-and-Now Photos 100 Years Old

Bedřiška Köhlerová, 26 years old and 103 years old

Jan Langer Faces of Century Then-and-Now Photos 100 Years Old

Stanislav Spáčil, 17 years old and 102 years old

Jan Langer Faces of Century Then-and-Now Photos 100 Years Old

Vlasta Čížková, 23 years old and 101 years old

Jan Langer Faces of Century Then-and-Now Photos 100 Years Old

Ludvík Chybík, 20 years old and 102 years old

Jan Langer Faces of Century Then-and-Now Photos 100 Years Old

Anna Vašinová, 22 years old and 102 years old

Jan Langer Faces of Century Then-and-Now Photos 100 Years Old

Antonín Baldrman, 17 years old and 101 years old

Jan Langer Faces of Century Then-and-Now Photos 100 Years Old

Anna Pochobradská, 30 years old and 100 years old

Jan Langer Faces of Century Then-and-Now Photos 100 Years Old

Vincenc Jetelina, 30 years old and 105 years old

Jan Langer Faces of Century Then-and-Now Photos 100 Years Old

Ludmila Vysloužilová 23 years old and 101 years old

Jan Langer Faces of Century Then-and-Now Photos 100 Years Old

Marie Fejfarová, 101 years old (“she burnt all material memories of her life”)

Jan Langer: Website 
h/t: [Bored Panda]

All images via Jan Langer.

Kelly Richman-Abdou

Kelly Richman-Abdou is a Contributing Writer at My Modern Met. An art historian living in Paris, Kelly was born and raised in San Francisco and holds a BA in Art History from the University of San Francisco and an MA in Art and Museum Studies from Georgetown University. When she’s not writing, you can find Kelly wandering around Paris, whether she’s leading a tour (as a guide, she has been interviewed by BBC World News America and France 24) or simply taking a stroll with her husband and two tiny daughters.
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