4003 - Anschütz, Ottomar

Anschütz, Ottomar Bears. 1889. 3 albumen prints from glass negatives. 19 x 14.8 cm and 14.5 x 19.8 cm. Each signed, located, and dated “Ottomar Anschütz, Lissa (Posen) 1889” on the negative; with the imprint “Ottomar Anschütz, Berlin. Selbstverlag.” or “Ottomar Anschütz, Lissa (Posen). Self-published.” on the reverse. Anschütz was among the pioneers of instantaneous photography. During the 1880s, he used a rapid focal-plane shutter to photograph live animals at the Breslau Zoological Garden and outdoors, achieving a sharpness and naturalness rarely seen in earlier zoological photography. Published by the photographer as independent studies, these images were valued both as technical demonstrations and as models for artists, thus forming an important part of Anschütz’s work at the dawn of chronophotography. – Some foxing, surface soiling, handling creases, and slight buckling; one print has more pronounced foxing and small losses along the edges, but is otherwise in good condition.