Wilhelm Halffter

Wilhelm Halffter, self-portrait, around 1855

Friedrich Wilhelm Halffter (born October 23, 1821 in Berlin ; † February 21, 1901 there ) was a German daguerreotypist in the early days of photography.

Life

May 31, 1851: Inauguration of the equestrian statue for Frederick the Great. Daguerreotype by Wilhelm Halffter.

There is evidence that Wilhelm Halffter worked in Berlin from 1840 to 1860. "Although little is known about his work and life, Wilhelm Halffter must be counted among the most important photographers of the early days in Berlin ...". W. Halffter had a photographic studio at Leipziger Strasse 97 from 1851 to 1863, at No. 118 in 1864 and at No. 91 to 1866. From 1864 on, J. [ulius] Halffter reported as a photographer. After 1867 there are no further entries in the Berlin address books for a photographic studio of W. [ilhelm] Halffter.

plant

His daguerreotype of May 31, 1851 of the inauguration of the monument to Frederick the Great is considered an early example of photojournalism . It is signed , dated and inscribed. This 24 × 30 cm daguerreotype is kept in the photographic collection of the Museum Ludwig . Another large-format (21 × 15 cm) daguerreotype by Halffter from this collection is Berlin, Alte Leipziger Strasse (on Kurstrasse) and dates from the spring of 1840.

The author Fritz Kempe has described another daguerreotype from Berlin (literature). It shows the houses numbered 5, 6 and 7 on Hausvogteiplatz and has been dated "Spring 1840" by Halffter. The handwritten note on the back: Taken with a plane mirror in front of the lens . A portrait of Karl August Varnhagen von Ense in the format 88 × 51 mm, around 1855, from the estate of Gottfried Keller is in the Zurich Central Library .

literature

Visite card and lapel by W. Halffter. Vignetted portrait of Hoffmann von Fallersleben .

Fritz Kempe: Daguerreotype in Germany - from the charm of early photography , Heering, 1979, ISBN 978-377635190-3 , pp. 51, 59, 60
Hubertus coal: History of the fine arts in Germany: From Biedermeier to Impressionism , Volume 7, Prestel Verlag 2008, ISBN 978-3-79133-630-5 , p. 413

Web links

Commons : Wilhelm Halffter - Collection of images, videos and audio files

Wikisource: Berlin address books - sources and full texts

Sibylle Einholz : 19th century photography studios in Berlin

Remarks

↑ According to information from the Berlin address books, the first entry on Wilhelm Halffter can be found under “Business and Tradespeople” in 1851 under the heading “Daguerreotypists”. All other information also comes from the Berlin address books.
↑ In the Berlin address book from 1842, the city councilor (Hausvogteiplatz district, election from 1834) and master chimney sweep F. [riedrich] W. [ilhelm] Halffter is listed as the owner of the house under the address "Hausvogteiplatz 6". It is not known whether this is a relative or even the daguerreotypist himself. It is noteworthy that the entry of the name “FW Halffter” can be found under “Business and tradespeople” in the “Chimney sweep” section until 1851, and under “Daguerreotypists” in the following years. With the addition "Rentier" it can be traced in the address book ("Resident Registration") until at least 1894.

Individual evidence

^ Register office Charlottenburg II: death register . No. 255/1901.
↑ Bodo von Dewitz: Agfa Foto-Historama , Museum Ludwig, 1986, p. 108.
↑ Erika Billeter, Christoph Brockhaus: Sculpture in the light of photography: from Bayard to Mapplethorpe , Wilhelm Lehmbruck Museum Duisburg, Benteli, 1997, ISBN 978-3-71651083-4 , p. 308.
↑ Erich Stenger, Edward Epstean: The history of photography - its relation to civilization and practice , Mack Printing Company 1939 S. 75th
↑ Heinz Langholz, Ferdinand van den Ecker, Christoph Müller: In inimitable loyalty. Photography in the 19th Century - Your History in German-Speaking Countries . Museums of the City of Cologne 1979, p. 176 (illustration), 349.
↑ Hans Wysling: Gottfried Keller , Artemis 1990, ISBN 978-3-76081024-9 , p. 186.

personal data
SURNAME	Halffter, Wilhelm
ALTERNATIVE NAMES	Halffter, W .; Halffter, Friedrich Wilhelm (full name)
BRIEF DESCRIPTION	Photographer in Berlin
DATE OF BIRTH	October 23, 1821
PLACE OF BIRTH	Berlin
DATE OF DEATH	February 21, 1901
Place of death	Berlin

[4] According to information from the Berlin address books, the first entry on Wilhelm Halffter can be found under “Business and Tradespeople” in 1851 under the heading “Daguerreotypists”. All other information also comes from the Berlin address books.

[7] In the Berlin address book from 1842, the city councilor (Hausvogteiplatz district, election from 1834) and master chimney sweep F. [riedrich] W. [ilhelm] Halffter is listed as the owner of the house under the address "Hausvogteiplatz 6". It is not known whether this is a relative or even the daguerreotypist himself. It is noteworthy that the entry of the name “FW Halffter” can be found under “Business and tradespeople” in the “Chimney sweep” section until 1851, and under “Daguerreotypists” in the following years. With the addition "Rentier" it can be traced in the address book ("Resident Registration") until at least 1894.

[1] Register office Charlottenburg II: death register . No. 255/1901.

[2] Bodo von Dewitz: Agfa Foto-Historama , Museum Ludwig, 1986, p. 108.

[3] Erika Billeter, Christoph Brockhaus: Sculpture in the light of photography: from Bayard to Mapplethorpe , Wilhelm Lehmbruck Museum Duisburg, Benteli, 1997, ISBN 978-3-71651083-4 , p. 308.

[5] Erich Stenger, Edward Epstean: The history of photography - its relation to civilization and practice , Mack Printing Company 1939 S. 75th

[6] Heinz Langholz, Ferdinand van den Ecker, Christoph Müller: In inimitable loyalty. Photography in the 19th Century - Your History in German-Speaking Countries . Museums of the City of Cologne 1979, p. 176 (illustration), 349.

[8] Hans Wysling: Gottfried Keller , Artemis 1990, ISBN 978-3-76081024-9 , p. 186.