Camera Work: A Photographic Quarterly (1913 (Heft 42-43))

DEFINITIVE RECOGNITION OF PICTORIAL
PHOTOGRAPHY

THE Royal Academy of the Graphic Arts, Leipsic, Germany, has appointed Frank Eugene,
Royal Professorof Pictorial Photography. For this purpose a special chair was created
for him.* Five years ago the Photographic School (State School) in Munich had added
to its curriculum a tutorship for pictorial photography. This was done for the special
purpose of inducing Eugene to become teacher at the school. It was realized by the manage-
ment, after an exhibition of Eugene’s photography at the Munich Kunst-Verein, that pictorial
photography must be added to the School’s regular course, and above all that Eugene was the
man to take charge of it. His appointment was Bavaria’s first official recognition of pictorial
photography. As a teacher there, his fame spread so rapidly that pupils from all parts of
the world flocked to him. Coincidently with his teaching he continued his own private
work. His thorough training in the field of art, his broadness of vision, his strong and joyous
and enthusiastic disposition, together with his genuine ability, finally gained for him a unique
position in Germany’s art world. His work attracted attention everywhere. Thus, when
the Royal Academy of Graphic Arts in Leipsic came to realize the increasing value, and
the fuller significance of photography as a medium of expression, it felt itself moved to
create a special chair for pictorial photography for Eugene, if he were willing to consider
the offer of a full professorship. He accepted the offer, with conditions as follows:
The professorship to be for life at a salary of six thousand marks a year, with the privilege to
continue his own work unrestrictedly; the State to build for him a studio and a laboratory
after his own design, and at its expense; the number of pupils to be limited to six at a given
period, and these to be selected by himself. This last condition enables him to devote himself
enthusiastically to the development of the highest talent that may come to him; so that he
is insured against wasting his energies on mediocrities and dilettantism. The authorities wish
him to train potential masters, so that these may go out in the world to exert their influence
in their turn. The professor is to have six months a year entirely for himself; and should
he deem it desirable at any time to travel in the interest of his work, in connection with the
Academy, the privilege shall be his, at the expense of the Institution. Furthermore, when
Eugene retires he will be entitled to full pension. This official recognition of pictorial photog-
raphy is definitive. Art museums have purchased prints; art museums have held official
photographic exhibitions in their galleries; but no art academy ever before recognized pictorial
photography by creating a chair for it. And no art institution can ever recognize it in a
more liberal and enlightened manner.
We owe the news of these details to the assistant Art Director of the Leipsic Academy,
who on a visit to New York during the summer, gave them to us with the request to let the
public know of them. He thought, as we also did, that Eugene’s appointment under such
conditions would be a source of encouragement to all the serious workers in the photographic
world. We rejoice for Eugene; we rejoice still more for photography. Both have earned the
distinction.
All those interested in examples of Eugene’s work we refer to Camera Work, Numbers
V, XXV, XXX and XXXI.
* * # # #
During all these years it has been our editorial policy to print nothing in our pages which
may have been written, or said, in praise of Camera Work. But we are going to make an ex-
ception. In view of Eugene’s appointment, which we interpret as an official recognition of
photography as a medium of expression by one of Germany’s most advanced and active art
Academies, we add an interesting note about Camera Work and Berlin.
Dr. Jessen, Director of the Library of the Berlin Museum of Decorative and Applied
Arts — the most advanced institution of its type in Europe — during his recent visit to
New York, spent several afternoons at “291.” Dr. Jessen has been vitally interested in
*For some years in the curriculum of the Academy, a course of “Natur-Photographie” was included. This has
been replaced by the new Professorship.
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