Ignác Šechtl

Ignác Šechtl (26 May 1840 – 6 July 1911), also known as Ignace Schächtl or Hynek Šechtl, was a pioneer of Czech photography (especially photojournalism) and cinematography. He moved from Prague, to Kladno, Plzeň, Bucharest, Prachatice and Nepomuk, and finally to Tábor, where he established the photographic firm Šechtl and Voseček, which survived for three generations.

Ignác Šechtl was born in Prague, on 26 May 1840, into the family of a miller. His father intended him to become a trader, and his first job was administrator for the business of Alexander Klier, in Prague. In 1863 he moved to Kladno, to learn the art of photography, and in 1865 he was granted tradesman’s rights. Only a few of his cartes de visite remain from that time, and these are now stored in the family archive.

In 1864, he moved to Plzeň, and opened his studio, the fourth in the town. Contemporary newspapers mention his photographing of the unveiling of the memorial to sculptor Wiltd, and describe it as being successful in spite of the inclement weather on the day. This is the first mention of Ignác Šechtl’s outdoor work.

In 1868, he went into partnership with photographer Franz Bergman. The two men later had a falling out, after which Šechtl and his wife Antonia left Plzeň and he became an itinerant photographer. He tried his luck in Bucharest in 1871, and in Nepomuk and Prachatice. Several significant photographs remain from this period. One unique work that has survived is a photomontage, achieved by double exposure, depicting Ignác Šechtl both as laboratory worker and retouching a photo, in one picture. Also interesting are photos of towns, for example, shots of Prachatice, Jistebnice, Tábor, Žirovnice and a panoramic photograph of Blatná.

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