Pascal Sébah (1823 – June 25, 1886) was an Ottoman photographer in Constantinople (now Istanbul) and Cairo. Best known for his prolific photography of Turkey, Egypt, and Greece, Sébah established the studio that would later become Sébah & Joaillier.
Pascal Sébah
Possible self-portrait of Pascal Sebah in front of the Sultan Ahmed III Fountain, c. 1867.
The Water Carrier, mounted photograph by Pascal Sébah
Pascal Sébah was born in Constantinople, then the capital of the Ottoman Empire, to a Syrian father and an Armenian mother.[1]
He initially worked in collaboration with the French photographer, Henri Bechard.[2] After receiving medals at the International Exhibition in Paris, he decided to open his own studio in Constantinople in 1857.[3] Sébah's studio was known as ''El Chark (meaning "The Orient"), situated at 439 Grande Rue de Pera in the center of the city and close by the embassies and hotels where tourists met.[4]
Sébah primarily produced photographs for the tourist trade. By the second half of the 19th century, tourist travel to Egypt had created strong demand for photographs as souvenirs. Sébah was among a group of early photographers in Constantinople and Cairo to capitalise on this demand. These pioneering photographers included Félix Bonfils (1831-1885); Gustave Le Gray (1820-1884), brothers Henri and Emile Bechard; the British-Italian brothers Antonio Beato (c. 1832–1906) and Felice Beato and the Greek Zangaki brothers.[5] By 1873 Sébah was successful enough to open a second studio in Cairo. The same year, he exhibited at the Ottoman pavilion of the Universal Exhibition in Vienna, Austria.[2]
He established a valuable working relationship with Turkish painter and archeologist Osman Hamdi Bey, taking photographs as part of the artist's preparation, and in which he experimented with light and shade.[6] In turn, Hamdi Bey selected Sébah to illustrate his text on the popular costumes worn by Turkish and other ethnic groups, entitled Les Costumes Populaires de la Turquie en 1873: ouvrage publié sous le patronage de la Commission impériale ottomane pour l'Exposition universelle de Vienne and published in 1873.[7]
Following his death on 25 June 1886, the studio continued in business. It was managed by his brother, Cosmi, and in 1888 Pollicarpe Joiallier became a partner. At this time, the company was renamed Sebah & Joaillier[6] Pascal's son, Jean Pascal Sébah, also joined in 1888 and went on to run the studio with other photographers. The firm developed a reputation as the leading representative of Orientalist photography and in 1889 was appointed the Photographers by Appointment to the Prussian Court.[6] Sébah's studio continued operations, in one form or another, until 1952 at the same address and then moved until its closure in 1973.[1]
Sébah, a Syrian Catholic, was buried in the Feriköy Latin Catholic Cemetery in Istanbul. His son, Jean Pascal Sébah, is also buried there.
^ abPhilip Carabott, Yannis Hamilakis and Eleni Papargyriou (eds), Camera Graeca: Photographs, Narratives, Materialities, Routledge, 2016, p. 114
^ abPhotography in Ottoman Istanbul by Margaret Kurkoski, 2013-2015 Curatorial Fellow, Smith College Museum of Art
^Hannavy, J., Encyclopedia of Nineteenth-Century Photography, Routledge, 2013, p. 1032
^J. Paul Getty Museum; Note that the source confuses father and son. Confusion between Pascal Sébah (father) and son Jean Pascal Sébah (son) is not uncommon. Users should be very careful when using images from Wiki Commons as this source also confuses the two photographers and the World Cat Identities exhibits similar problems with identities. Other sources are more careful, see for instance, Philip Carabott, Yannis Hamilakis and Eleni Papargyriou (eds), Camera Graeca: Photographs, Narratives, Materialities, Routledge, 2016, p. 114
^Jacobson, K., Odalisques and Arabesques: Orientalist Photography, 1839-1925, London, Bernard Quaritch, 2007, p. 277.
^ abcHannavy, J., Encyclopedia of Nineteenth-Century Photography, Routledge, 2013, p. 1036
^Osman Hamdi Bey; Marie de Launay; J Pascal Sébah, Les Costumes Populaires de la Turquie en 1873: ouvrage publié sous le patronage de la Commission impériale ottomane pour l'Exposition universelle de Vienne, Turkey, Commission impériale ottomane pour l'Exposition universelle de Vienne, 1873
Engin Özendes, From Sébah & Joaillier to Foto Sabah. Orientalism in Photography, Istanbul, YKY, 1999.
Michelle L. Woodward, "Between Orientalist Clichés and Images of Modernization: Photographic Practice in the Late Ottoman Era," History of Photography, winter 2003, Vol. 27, No. 4. doi:10.1080/03087298.2003.10441271
External linksedit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Pascal Sebah.
Les Costumes Popularies de la Turquie en 1873 by Osman Bey Hamdi with illustrations by Pascal Sébah
Pascal Sebah blog on Sebah's biography
Pascal Sébah blog on Sebah's biography
(in French) Bibliothèque numérique de l'INHA - Fonds photographique Pascal Sébah de l'ENSBA
December 12, 2023
pascal, sébah, 1823, june, 1886, ottoman, photographer, constantinople, istanbul, cairo, best, known, prolific, photography, turkey, egypt, greece, sébah, established, studio, that, would, later, become, sébah, joaillier, possible, self, portrait, pascal, seba. Pascal Sebah 1823 June 25 1886 was an Ottoman photographer in Constantinople now Istanbul and Cairo Best known for his prolific photography of Turkey Egypt and Greece Sebah established the studio that would later become Sebah amp Joaillier Pascal SebahPossible self portrait of Pascal Sebah in front of the Sultan Ahmed III Fountain c 1867 Born1823Istanbul Ottoman EmpireDiedJune 25 1886Istanbul Ottoman EmpireChildrenJean Pascal SebahFor his photographer son see Jean Pascal Sebah Photo of two Kurdish men and an Orthodox cleric taken by Pascal Sebah at the universal exhibition in Vienna 1873 Contents 1 Life and work 2 Gallery of photographs by Sebah 3 See also 4 References 5 General references 6 External linksLife and work edit nbsp The Water Carrier mounted photograph by Pascal SebahPascal Sebah was born in Constantinople then the capital of the Ottoman Empire to a Syrian father and an Armenian mother 1 He initially worked in collaboration with the French photographer Henri Bechard 2 After receiving medals at the International Exhibition in Paris he decided to open his own studio in Constantinople in 1857 3 Sebah s studio was known as El Chark meaning The Orient situated at 439 Grande Rue de Pera in the center of the city and close by the embassies and hotels where tourists met 4 Sebah primarily produced photographs for the tourist trade By the second half of the 19th century tourist travel to Egypt had created strong demand for photographs as souvenirs Sebah was among a group of early photographers in Constantinople and Cairo to capitalise on this demand These pioneering photographers included Felix Bonfils 1831 1885 Gustave Le Gray 1820 1884 brothers Henri and Emile Bechard the British Italian brothers Antonio Beato c 1832 1906 and Felice Beato and the Greek Zangaki brothers 5 By 1873 Sebah was successful enough to open a second studio in Cairo The same year he exhibited at the Ottoman pavilion of the Universal Exhibition in Vienna Austria 2 He established a valuable working relationship with Turkish painter and archeologist Osman Hamdi Bey taking photographs as part of the artist s preparation and in which he experimented with light and shade 6 In turn Hamdi Bey selected Sebah to illustrate his text on the popular costumes worn by Turkish and other ethnic groups entitled Les Costumes Populaires de la Turquie en 1873 ouvrage publie sous le patronage de la Commission imperiale ottomane pour l Exposition universelle de Vienne and published in 1873 7 Following his death on 25 June 1886 the studio continued in business It was managed by his brother Cosmi and in 1888 Pollicarpe Joiallier became a partner At this time the company was renamed Sebah amp Joaillier 6 Pascal s son Jean Pascal Sebah also joined in 1888 and went on to run the studio with other photographers The firm developed a reputation as the leading representative of Orientalist photography and in 1889 was appointed the Photographers by Appointment to the Prussian Court 6 Sebah s studio continued operations in one form or another until 1952 at the same address and then moved until its closure in 1973 1 Sebah a Syrian Catholic was buried in the Ferikoy Latin Catholic Cemetery in Istanbul His son Jean Pascal Sebah is also buried there Gallery of photographs by Sebah edit nbsp Portrait of Sultan Abdul Aziz by Pascal Sebah nbsp Section of the Panoramic view of the Topkapi Palace c 1860 80 Brooklyn Museum nbsp Damascus fashion illustration from the book Popular Costumes in Turkey 1873 nbsp Turkish Women of Constantinople illustration from the book Popular Costumes in Turkey 1873 nbsp Syrian fashion illustration from the book Popular Costumes in Turkey 1873 nbsp Bedouins from Aleppo illustration from the book Popular Costumes in Turkey 1873 nbsp Fashion l r Zahle Lebanon and Zgharta illustration from the book Popular Costumes in Turkey 1873 nbsp Christian couple from Shkodra illustration from the book Popular Costumes in Turkey 1873 nbsp Dendra Temple of Hathor nbsp Abydoss Seti I Offering Incense to OsirisSee also editList of Orientalist artists OrientalismReferences edit a b Philip Carabott Yannis Hamilakis and Eleni Papargyriou eds Camera Graeca Photographs Narratives Materialities Routledge 2016 p 114 a b Photography in Ottoman Istanbul by Margaret Kurkoski 2013 2015 Curatorial Fellow Smith College Museum of Art Hannavy J Encyclopedia of Nineteenth Century Photography Routledge 2013 p 1032 J Paul Getty Museum Note that the source confuses father and son Confusion between Pascal Sebah father and son Jean Pascal Sebah son is not uncommon Users should be very careful when using images from Wiki Commons as this source also confuses the two photographers and the World Cat Identities exhibits similar problems with identities Other sources are more careful see for instance Philip Carabott Yannis Hamilakis and Eleni Papargyriou eds Camera Graeca Photographs Narratives Materialities Routledge 2016 p 114 Jacobson K Odalisques and Arabesques Orientalist Photography 1839 1925 London Bernard Quaritch 2007 p 277 a b c Hannavy J Encyclopedia of Nineteenth Century Photography Routledge 2013 p 1036 Osman Hamdi Bey Marie de Launay J Pascal Sebah Les Costumes Populaires de la Turquie en 1873 ouvrage publie sous le patronage de la Commission imperiale ottomane pour l Exposition universelle de Vienne Turkey Commission imperiale ottomane pour l Exposition universelle de Vienne 1873General references editFabrizio Casaretto Sebah amp Joaillier photos www sebahjoaillier com Engin Ozendes From Sebah amp Joaillier to Foto Sabah Orientalism in Photography Istanbul YKY 1999 Michelle L Woodward Between Orientalist Cliches and Images of Modernization Photographic Practice in the Late Ottoman Era History of Photography winter 2003 Vol 27 No 4 doi 10 1080 03087298 2003 10441271External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Pascal Sebah Les Costumes Popularies de la Turquie en 1873 by Osman Bey Hamdi with illustrations by Pascal Sebah Vintage Rag Trader Vintage Photographs by Pascal Sebah Pascal Sebah blog on Sebah s biography Pascal Sebah blog on Sebah s biography in French Bibliotheque numerique de l INHA Fonds photographique Pascal Sebah de l ENSBA Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Pascal Sebah amp oldid 1185697948, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
