Biografie von Arnold GENTHE (1869-1942)

Birth place: Berlin, Germany

Addresses: San Francsico (1895-1911); NYC (1911-42)

Profession: Photographer

Studied: Univ. Berlin and Univ. Jena, 1894; self-taught as a photographer

Exhibited: Camera Craft, 1901 (gold medal); S. Indp. A., 1917; Paris, 1928 (gold); Staten Island Mus. (retrospective) 1975

Member: Calif. Camera Club

Work: 4,000 prints, N.Y. Hist. Soc.; negatives/autochromes, LOC; IMP/GEH; AIC; MMA; NOMA; Oakland Mus. Art; BMFA; NYPL; Archaeology Inst., Rhodes; Guild Hall, Easthampton, NY

Comments: A doctor of philology, he emigrated to San Francisco in 1895, establishing himself as a portrait photographer of celebrities. He was also well-known for his scenes of Chinatown which were published as Old Chinatown in 1909. In 1911, he moved to New York where he continued his portraiture and pioneered in dance photography, producing The Book of the Dance in 1916, and Isadora Duncan, 1929. He also documented American cities, such as Impressions of Old New Orleans, 1926. His autobiography, As I Remember is also illustrated with his works.

Sources: WW40; Jerry Patterson, exh. cat, Staten Island Mus., 1975; Witkin & London, 149