FRANTISEK DRTIKOL (1883–1961)

FRANTISEK DRTIKOL (1883-1961) Graduates of the Institute of Vertebrate Biology, Prague 1924 Image Size: 9,2 x 6,4 cm Hardback album with linen cover 33 x 24,8 cm, containing 38 vintage silver prints, in excellent condition. The first portrait (showing the head of the institute) in image size 14,3 x 11,3 cm, mounted on black backing paper 18 x 13 cm, the 37 following portraits in smaller image size, also mounted on black backing paper 10.6 x 7 cm each, mounted in fours on nine recto pages, the last portrait alone on one page. Colophon with handwritten title in black ink "Abiturienti COA IVB Praha 1924" (Graduates of the Institute of Vertebrate Biology 1924) and the photographer's name. Drtikol, who today is best known for his artistic art-deco nude photography, also ran a recognized portrait studio, which this album impressively demonstrates. The similarity of pose, lighting and framing makes the individual characteristics of the protagonists particularly clear. Circulating card-de-visite portraits of Drtikol with his blind stamp show the same image conception characterized by clarity.