Heartbreaking images of people who lived over 100 years

Czech photographer Jan Langer created an amazing photo project called “The faces of the century”. He portrayed people who lived over 100 years and compared their photos with those in their family albums.

During the photo sessions, Jan would ask how these people saw life after living for so many years. Most said that every year time passes faster and then it just flies by. Every year, your friends disappear. At such moments, time freezes, and then flies again, gaining more speed.

Jan began to question himself, then, what changes and what does not change in the faces of people who have lived a century, who have gone through many pains and joys and through several misfortunes of the 20th century. He asked what loneliness in old age is and what memories warm the soul until the last days. After comparing the photos, he was able to notice the similarities and differences in physical appearance.

Finally, he concluded that even at 100 years of age, you can still see the personality and character seen in life’s first picture. No wrinkles or gray hairs can hide them.

The wording of incredible.club moved by these images. We want you too to feel the power of time that inevitably changes everything.

Vlasta Čížková

23 years and 101 years

In the photo on the left, Vlasta had just finished an all-women’s college. Then she worked as a cook at an airport. She now lives in a village, close to all her relatives. Vlasta is interested in the world political situation. She reports that she has an ambivalent relationship with her family. The closest relatives visit her from time to time; the most distant ones curiously always appear. Vlasta has amazing memories! She was in the truck that ran over the son of Reinhard Heydrich (one of the Germans who ‘idealized’ the holocaust) and sheltered the Russian soldiers after his liberation; Her only son was arrested in 1948 and she used to read poems to the newlyweds during ceremonies.

Vlasta’s greatest wish is for his family to stay together.

Marie Buresova

23 years and 101 years

It’s hard to believe that the girl in the wedding dress we see in the photo on the left used to work as a butcher. Today she lives in her own house in Zlín, in the east of the country. Her daughter, son-in-law and granddaughter visit her daily. And talking to them is her favorite pastime. The most intense memory of Marie’s life is the nationalization of her company. Her wish is for the whole family to meet more often.

Prokop Vejdělek

22 years and 101 years

The first photo was taken during military service. Prokop worked as a metallurgical engineer and now lives on a farm his daughter bought for him. His loved ones are beside him: his daughter, son-in-law and grandson. Prokop’s hobby is carving, using a circular saw. He admits that his favorite memory of his youth is the taste of hot goat’s milk. Prokop wishes everyone good health and good mood.

Anna Pochobradska

Approximately 30 years and 100 years

Anna worked on a farm and now lives in a home for the elderly. Her most memorable memories are of the time when she was young and knew how to stand up for herself. Every weekend, her daughter comes to see her, but Anna still feels lonely. She likes to sleep and says that one day she wants to sleep so she won’t wake up again.

Antonin Baldrman

17 years and 101 years

At age 17 Antonín was already an experienced welder and soon after he worked as a civil servant. Today he lives in a home for the elderly in Blansko, in the center of the country. Antonín reads the newspapers and is grateful for having his daughter visit him twice a week. The most important memory is of his work team, with whom he got along very well. He wants everyone to live in peace.

Anna Vašinová

22 years and 102 years

The photo on the left was taken shortly after Anna’s wedding. She worked on a farm and now lives in a home for the elderly in Sloupnice, in the northwest of the Czech Republic. Anna loves to read romance novels. She will never forget the time when she sang folk songs in a children’s choir and how World War II took her husband. Her biggest wish is to meet him after death.

Antonín Kovář

25 years and 102 years

Antonín is a creative person. He was director of a musical group, cinema operator and driver. Today he lives in the town of Ústí nad Labem. He still enjoys music, reading newspapers and talking to his daughter, who comes to see him every day.

The moments he treasures most in his 102 years are the ones he was able to play in his musical group and the days he spent with his wife. Antonín’s dream is to play the clarinet again.

Marie Fejfarová

101 years

Marie worked as a sports instructor at a stadium and her husband was a famous cardiologist. They lived in a villa in an upscale neighborhood of Prague, the country’s capital. In that house, Marie lived until she turned 101 and then decided to leave. She burned all the material memories of her life: all the letters, all the diaries and photos and with just a scrub and a toothbrush she knocked on the door of an old people’s home – hence, we have no photos left.

She left her village house with furniture, books, clothes and the rest to her friends, who were supposed to take care of her at the nursing home. They only visited her once, brought her a cake, and never came back.

Marie loves English and French literature, and for translating the names of objects she knows into other languages. Her favorite memories are of trips with her husband to other countries: the little paths in the gardens of Japan, the bustling Hong Kong, the bad food in the poor neighborhoods of Africa and a luxurious reception by the Spanish royal family.

After all this exciting life, Marie came to this conclusion: “If you give something, expect nothing in return. And if you receive something, you can be sure it will stay with you until the day you die.”

What emotions did this photographic project provoke in you? Joy or sadness? Or maybe some other feeling? Do you know someone who has had a long and extraordinary life? Tell us in the comments.