Bertha Wehnert-Beckmann (25 January 1815 – 6 December 1901) was a German photographer. She appears to have been Germany's first professional female photographer, and was possibly also the first professional female photographer in the world, being active a few years prior to Brita Sofia Hesselius and Geneviève Élisabeth Disdéri. Together with her husband, she opened a studio in Leipzig in 1843 and ran the business herself from his death in 1847.[1]
Born in Cottbus, in the Province of Brandenburg of the Kingdom of Prussia, Wehrnert-Beckmann first worked as a hairdresser in Dresden in 1839. There, in 1840, she met her future husband, Eduard Wehnert (1811–1847) a photographer,[2] who introduced her to the daguerrotype process and to the recently introduced color-tinting process based on glass-plate negatives which allowed an unlimited number of prints.
In 1843, together with her husband, she opened a studio in Leipzig, becoming Germany's first known professional female photographer. After her husband's death in 1847, she continued to run the business herself. In 1849, she went to the United States where she opened studios in New York, first at 62 White Street and later at 385 Broadway. While in America, she received a diploma for special services to portrait photography. She returned to Leipzig in 1851 after transferring her New York business to her brother. In 1866, she moved her place of business to Leipzig's Elsterstraße where she had several employees. Her studio became one of the most notable addresses in the city. She retired in 1883 at the age of 68.[1][3]
Beckmann worked in the daguerreotype photographic process. The exhibit representing her work, which resides at The Leipzig Museum of City History, could be one of the most valuable contributions to early history of photography. She kept up with the most current trend of her craft, including diligently learning stereo-photography, upon its invention.[4]
ExhibitionsEdit
Wehnert-Beckmann was one of two photographers from Saxony to exhibit at the 1854 Erste Allgemeine Deutsche Industrieausstellung (First German Industrial Fair) in Munich where she displayed paper prints in addition to daguerreotypes.[2] Today her work can be seen in Leipzig's Stadtgeschichtliches Museum (City Museum).[1]
AssessmentEdit
A photograph by Wehnert-Beckmann of her studio c. 1850
Her work combines a human approach with high levels of technical and artistic quality.[2] Specializing in portraits, her most impressive works are those of children. Her interest in technical innovations, her use of modern advertising methods and her sense of business all contributed to her outstanding success as a photographer.[1]
WorksEdit
While living in New York, notable subjects such as President Millard Fillmore, ambassadors, and other politicians came to her to be photographed. Upon returning to her Leipzig study, she became the first in her city to begin working with nude photography. She also added a list of famous individuals to her photographic portfolio upon returning to her home city. These individuals included Clara Schumann, Johannes Brahms, Franz Dominic Grassi, Karl Heine and many others. In addition, Beckmann has been credited with some of the very first architectural photographs of Leipzig (1855–1860), which documented the city and its features before some were destroyed, such as Peter's Gate(1860).[5]
ReferencesEdit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Bertha Wehnert-Beckmann.
^ abcdNicole Schönherr, Straßennamen in Dresden – Reine Männersache? Landeshauptstadt Dresden. Der Oberbürgermeister, Gleichstellungsbeauftragte für Frau und Mann, Dresden 2005, page 32. (in German) Retrieved 8 March 2013.
^ abc"Bertha Wehnert-Beckmann (1815 –1901)", Deutsches Historisches Museum. (in Danish) Retrieved 8 March 2013.
^"Bertha Wehnert-Beckmann", Luminous Lint. Retrieved 8 March 2013.
^"The Female Photographer - Stadtgeschichtliches Museum Leipzig". www.stadtgeschichtliches-museum-leipzig.de. Retrieved 2018-03-29.
^"The Female Photographer - Stadtgeschichtliches Museum Leipzig". www.stadtgeschichtliches-museum-leipzig.de. Retrieved 2018-03-29.
October 21, 2023
bertha, beckmann, bertha, wehnert, beckmann, january, 1815, december, 1901, german, photographer, appears, have, been, germany, first, professional, female, photographer, possibly, also, first, professional, female, photographer, world, being, active, years, p. Bertha Wehnert Beckmann 25 January 1815 6 December 1901 was a German photographer She appears to have been Germany s first professional female photographer and was possibly also the first professional female photographer in the world being active a few years prior to Brita Sofia Hesselius and Genevieve Elisabeth Disderi Together with her husband she opened a studio in Leipzig in 1843 and ran the business herself from his death in 1847 1 Bertha Beckmann self portrait c 1850 Contents 1 Biography 2 Exhibitions 3 Assessment 4 Works 5 ReferencesBiography EditBorn in Cottbus in the Province of Brandenburg of the Kingdom of Prussia Wehrnert Beckmann first worked as a hairdresser in Dresden in 1839 There in 1840 she met her future husband Eduard Wehnert 1811 1847 a photographer 2 who introduced her to the daguerrotype process and to the recently introduced color tinting process based on glass plate negatives which allowed an unlimited number of prints In 1843 together with her husband she opened a studio in Leipzig becoming Germany s first known professional female photographer After her husband s death in 1847 she continued to run the business herself In 1849 she went to the United States where she opened studios in New York first at 62 White Street and later at 385 Broadway While in America she received a diploma for special services to portrait photography She returned to Leipzig in 1851 after transferring her New York business to her brother In 1866 she moved her place of business to Leipzig s Elsterstrasse where she had several employees Her studio became one of the most notable addresses in the city She retired in 1883 at the age of 68 1 3 Beckmann worked in the daguerreotype photographic process The exhibit representing her work which resides at The Leipzig Museum of City History could be one of the most valuable contributions to early history of photography She kept up with the most current trend of her craft including diligently learning stereo photography upon its invention 4 Exhibitions EditWehnert Beckmann was one of two photographers from Saxony to exhibit at the 1854 Erste Allgemeine Deutsche Industrieausstellung First German Industrial Fair in Munich where she displayed paper prints in addition to daguerreotypes 2 Today her work can be seen in Leipzig s Stadtgeschichtliches Museum City Museum 1 Assessment Edit nbsp A photograph by Wehnert Beckmann of her studio c 1850Her work combines a human approach with high levels of technical and artistic quality 2 Specializing in portraits her most impressive works are those of children Her interest in technical innovations her use of modern advertising methods and her sense of business all contributed to her outstanding success as a photographer 1 Works EditWhile living in New York notable subjects such as President Millard Fillmore ambassadors and other politicians came to her to be photographed Upon returning to her Leipzig study she became the first in her city to begin working with nude photography She also added a list of famous individuals to her photographic portfolio upon returning to her home city These individuals included Clara Schumann Johannes Brahms Franz Dominic Grassi Karl Heine and many others In addition Beckmann has been credited with some of the very first architectural photographs of Leipzig 1855 1860 which documented the city and its features before some were destroyed such as Peter s Gate 1860 5 References Edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Bertha Wehnert Beckmann a b c d Nicole Schonherr Strassennamen in Dresden Reine Mannersache Landeshauptstadt Dresden Der Oberburgermeister Gleichstellungsbeauftragte fur Frau und Mann Dresden 2005 page 32 in German Retrieved 8 March 2013 a b c Bertha Wehnert Beckmann 1815 1901 Deutsches Historisches Museum in Danish Retrieved 8 March 2013 Bertha Wehnert Beckmann Luminous Lint Retrieved 8 March 2013 The Female Photographer Stadtgeschichtliches Museum Leipzig www stadtgeschichtliches museum leipzig de Retrieved 2018 03 29 The Female Photographer Stadtgeschichtliches Museum Leipzig www stadtgeschichtliches museum leipzig de Retrieved 2018 03 29 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Bertha Beckmann amp oldid 1174403852, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
