Photographic Society
The Photographische Gesellschaft (PhG) is the first association of photographers in Austria and was founded on March 22nd, 1861 in Vienna. This society was modeled on the associations that had existed in London and Paris since 1852/1853 and 1855, respectively. The purpose of this association was to increase the popularity of photographic recordings among the public, to promote attempts to improve technical achievements and to set up a specialist library on the subject of photography, which is the largest of its kind in Austria today and the value of which is almost entirely available early journals from around the world.
Since its inception, the members of the Photographic Society have made a significant contribution to the research and development of artistic and scientific photography in the service of astronomy, microscopy and radiology.
prehistory
According to a letter from Wilhelm Freiherr von Schwarz-Senborn to Josef Homolatsch on June 14, 1860, Schwarz-Senborn informed Anton Schrötter von Kristelli in Paris of the plan to found a photography society in Vienna as early as 1858 . Schwarz-Senborn was a passionate advocate of technology throughout his life. In July 1860, Homolatsch initiated a committee to found this association. On March 22, 1861, the foundation was proclaimed in a hall of the Imperial Academy of Sciences in Vienna. The founding members included August Artaria am Kohlmarkt , F. Paterno am Neuen Markt and Peter Wilhelm Friedrich Voigtländer , Ludwig Angerer , Franz Antoine, Johann Bauer, Ernst Birk, Rudolf Finger, Josef Homolatsch, Emil Hornig , Karl von Jagemann , Karl Josef Kreutzer, Karl Lemann, K. Mahlknecht, Anton Georg Martin , Achilles Melingo von Saginth, Joseph Petzval , Anton Schrötter von Kristelli and Anton Widter .
history
The association became a center of photographic development for scientists, industrialists, commercial photographers and private individuals. In the initial statutes, public appearances were documented as a special goal of the organizational activity. Planning for the organization of a "photographic exhibition" had already begun in the founding year.
The first president, Anton Georg Martin , first approached the Austrian Ministry of Justice in 1863 in order to legally clarify questions of copyright in photography. It was not until 1932 that the Federal Ministry of Education set up its own panel of experts for matters relating to copyright law in Austria. In the meantime, around 1865, the Photographic Society joined the Société française de Wothlytypie and received a license from the latter to produce pictures using the new Wothlytypie process.
From May 17 to June 1864, the first “ Photographic Exhibition ” in the German-speaking area took place in the Dreher Palace on Operngasse in Vienna . Portraits of mostly prominent personalities ( Ludwig A. Frankl , "Miss Schwöder, member of the Carltheater ", Anastasius Grün , Carl von Rokitansky , Emerich Ranzoni , Christine Hebbel with daughter, " Julie Rettich , kk. Court actress") were shown, as well as a sculpture and some visit pictures. Around 10,000 visitors viewed the 1,100 photos on display. Even Emperor Franz Joseph was among the visitors.
Commercial photography experienced a rapid boom in the second half of the 19th century due to the rapid development of reproduction techniques and the autotype . The need for skilled workers to reproduce photographic originals for book printing grew and the idea of a state training center came from the corner of the Photographic Society.
Josef Maria Eder , a member of the Photographic Society, presented his idea of a state educational institution in the “Museum for Art and Industry” (now the Museum for Applied Art ) and promoted its implementation. On March 1, 1888, the " kk teaching and research institute for photography and reproduction processes in Vienna " opened its doors in Neubau , under the direction of Eder. This was the first state training facility of its kind worldwide. The following branches were represented: training in portrait, landscape and reproduction photography, all areas of the mechanical printing techniques operated at that time, a scientific research institute and a department for the book and illustration trade. Today it is run as a higher federal graphic teaching and research institute with adapted learning material. Eder employed Hans Lenhard (1853–1920) as the first teacher for photography and retouching. Lenhard had previously worked for years as artistic director in the large Josef Löwy studio in Vienna . From 1910 the former student Karel Novák (1875-1950) was employed as a teacher. Rudolf Koppitz , again a student of Novák, was also a teacher.
On the occasion of the 40th anniversary in 1901, it was decided to organize an anniversary exhibition in order to present the development of photography in the previous forty years and the contribution of society to the successful achievements to a broad audience. At this point in time, the company had already put together a large collection on photographic history, some of which were exhibited as exhibits, making this exhibition a unique show on the history of photography from 1840 to 1901. At the same time, this exhibition showed for the first time what valuable contribution Austria made in the history of photography.
In the late 18th century, the company's exhibition policy was still characterized by a few smaller exhibitions, but it took part in numerous exhibitions abroad. From the beginning of the 19th century, the society succeeded in organizing regular exhibitions of an international character in Vienna, which were also beneficial to the popularity of photography. In 1906 the society received the kk title from Emperor Franz Joseph I and was called "Kk Photographische Gesellschaft in Wien" until 1918.
Club journal
The magazine Photographische Correspondenz was founded in 1864 by members of the association to report on the meetings, assemblies and lectures etc. The publication was discontinued in 1971 for economic reasons. No other German-language photographic magazine has appeared longer. Thanks to donations and state subsidies, photographic equipment and devices could be purchased in 1885 in order to set up a small photo laboratory.
Annual reports
- for the year 1869: Photographische Correspondenz , 7th vol., 1870, pp. 18-20
Members
- 1864: 149
- 1869: 207
Historical collection
The collection of the Photographic Society comprised photographic literature, excerpts from photomechanical printing processes, as well as photographic and optical devices. The holdings were donated to what is today the Higher Federal Graphical Training and Research Institute around 1930 . With 70,000 pictures, 35,000 books, numerous cameras and other photographic accessories, this is now one of the largest specialist collections in Austria.
This collection, including all books up to 1930, was made available on permanent loan to the Albertina in Vienna in 2000 .
Awards and honors awarded
In 1868 Friedrich von Voigtländer gave the company 5,400 Florentine guilders . Out of the interest, outstanding achievements in the field of photography should be awarded. On this occasion, the company awards the Voigtländer Medal in gold, silver or bronze. JB Obernetter received the first gold Voigtlander medal in 1873 for a process of negative duplication. The medal is awarded to members of society.
In 1876 the company medal of the Photographic Society was introduced, which was also awarded in gold, silver and bronze. Non-members can also be honored with the society medal.
In 1895 the anniversary medal was added. The anniversary medal is not a prize, but an award for 25 or 50 years of membership in the Photographic Society.
present
According to the current statutes of the Photographic Society, the purpose of the association is to “promote the art and science of photography and communication in the broadest sense of the word and all related or related disciplines and techniques, especially reproduction and printing processes”.
Werner Sobotka has been president of the company since 2004, replacing Anselm F. Wunderer.
literature
- Michael Ponstingl (ed.): The explosion of the world of images. The Photographic Society in Vienna 1861–1945. Verlag Christian Brandstätter, Vienna 2011. (= contributions to the history of photography in Austria, vol. 6)
- NN: Jubilee of the Imperial and Royal Photographic Society in Vienna , in: Photographische Chronik , No. 17 of February 22, 1911, pp. 101-102
- O. Prelinger: A look back at 50 years . In: Photographic correspondence . No. 48 , 1911, pp. 19–59 (review of the first 50 years of photography and society).
Web links
- http://www.photographische-gesellschaft.at/
- Entry on Photographic Society in the Austria Forum (in the AEIOU Austria Lexicon )
- Theodor Creifeld, photographer biography
- Albertina Contribution to Artistic Photography at the Graphic Education and Research Institute 1888–1955 (PDF; 821 kB)
- History of the Photographic Society on stereoskopie.at
- Member of the Société Française de Wothlytypie.
Individual evidence
- ^ Biobibliographic database of the Albertina
- ↑ President from 1861 to 1870, source: Photographische Korrespondenz , 19th year 1882, p. 225
- ↑ The unsuccessful Vienna photo exhibition ( page no longer available , search in web archives ) Info: The link was automatically marked as defective. Please check the link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. Accessed on Vienna Web on March 3, 2009
- ↑ albertina.at ( Memento of the original from November 20, 2010 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.
- ↑ Internet presence of the Photographische Gesellschaft, page History , accessed on September 8, 2011
- ↑ New tasks and goals of the Photographic Society (PhG). In: The emergence of the photographic society. ( Memento of the original from February 8, 2005 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was automatically inserted and not yet checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. on the pages of stereoskopie.at (accessed March 31, 2009)
- ↑ Contribution to the Annual General Meeting of the Photographische Gesellschaft on May 3, 2004 ( Memento of the original of December 5, 2008 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was automatically inserted and not yet checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. on westlicht.com
