Milan Jovanovic
Encyclopedia
Milan Jovanović was one of the most influential Serbia
n photographers of his generation. He is best "known for continuing the traditional path established by Anastas Jovanović
(no relation), the first professional photographer in Serbia." Milan was a Court photographer, son of Stevan Jovanović, the brother of Paja Jovanović
, one of the most renowned Serbian painters of his time. Born in October 1863 at Vršac
, then part of Austria-Hungary
, now Serbia, he died in Belgrade
shortly before the end of World War II, on March 17, 1944.
He first began studying photography in his father's studio in Vršac, and later in Vienna
, Munich
, Paris and Trieste
. In 1887 he opened his own photography studio in downtown Belgrade. At the outbreak of the Great War he joined the Serbian Army
and fought on the Eastern Front
until he was wounded in one of the battles. After convalescing in Florence
, he returned to Belgrade where he resumed his studio work.
Technically brilliant and endlessly imaginative Milan Jovanović proved that portraitures and photographs that capture people and historical events could be as complicated and challenging as any other kind of art form. His camera work in the field, particularly during the Great War, had captured his subjects in movement, like crossing a river at dusk, and in situations that mocked the artifice of studio poses. He is best remembered, however, for his portrait studies of: Ljubomir Nenadovic (1888); Milan Glisic (1888); Jovan Belimarkovic; Beta Vukanović
(1896); Stojan Novaković
(1898); Radoje Domanović
(1900); Stevan Sremac
(1901); Bora Stanković
; Đorđe Krstić; Vladislav Petkovic-Dis (1903); Branislav Nušić
; Bogdan Popovic (1904); Cica Ilija Stanojevic (1908); and many other contemporaries of his generation.
Serbia
Serbia , officially the Republic of Serbia , is a landlocked country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeast Europe, covering the southern part of the Carpathian basin and the central part of the Balkans...
n photographers of his generation. He is best "known for continuing the traditional path established by Anastas Jovanović
Anastas Jovanovic
Anastas Jovanović was the first Serbian photographer of his time to treat photography as an art form and to capture on film historical events as they were happening. He was the author of the first photographic pantheon of the most significant events and people of his time...
(no relation), the first professional photographer in Serbia." Milan was a Court photographer, son of Stevan Jovanović, the brother of Paja Jovanović
Paja Jovanovic
Pavle "Paja" Jovanović was the most prominent Serbian Realist painter alongside Uroš Predić. He is considered one of Serbia's greatest academic painters. His most famous and recognizable paintings include Serbian Migrations, Crowning of Stefan Dušan, Takovo Uprising, Cockfighting, Decorating of...
, one of the most renowned Serbian painters of his time. Born in October 1863 at Vršac
Vršac
Vršac is a town and municipality located in Serbia. In 2002 the town's total population was 36,623, while Vršac municipality had 54,369 inhabitants. Vršac is located in the Banat region, in the Vojvodina province of Serbia. It is part of the South Banat District.-Name:The name Vršac is of Serbian...
, then part of Austria-Hungary
Austria-Hungary
Austria-Hungary , more formally known as the Kingdoms and Lands Represented in the Imperial Council and the Lands of the Holy Hungarian Crown of Saint Stephen, was a constitutional monarchic union between the crowns of the Austrian Empire and the Kingdom of Hungary in...
, now Serbia, he died in Belgrade
Belgrade
Belgrade is the capital and largest city of Serbia. It is located at the confluence of the Sava and Danube rivers, where the Pannonian Plain meets the Balkans. According to official results of Census 2011, the city has a population of 1,639,121. It is one of the 15 largest cities in Europe...
shortly before the end of World War II, on March 17, 1944.
He first began studying photography in his father's studio in Vršac, and later in Vienna
Vienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
, Munich
Munich
Munich The city's motto is "" . Before 2006, it was "Weltstadt mit Herz" . Its native name, , is derived from the Old High German Munichen, meaning "by the monks' place". The city's name derives from the monks of the Benedictine order who founded the city; hence the monk depicted on the city's coat...
, Paris and Trieste
Trieste
Trieste is a city and seaport in northeastern Italy. It is situated towards the end of a narrow strip of land lying between the Adriatic Sea and Italy's border with Slovenia, which lies almost immediately south and east of the city...
. In 1887 he opened his own photography studio in downtown Belgrade. At the outbreak of the Great War he joined the Serbian Army
Serbian Army
-Objectives:The Serbian Army is responsible for:* deterring armed threats* defending Serbia's territory* participation in peacekeeping operations* providing humanitarian aid and disaster relief-Personnel:...
and fought on the Eastern Front
Eastern Front (World War I)
The Eastern Front was a theatre of war during World War I in Central and, primarily, Eastern Europe. The term is in contrast to the Western Front. Despite the geographical separation, the events in the two theatres strongly influenced each other...
until he was wounded in one of the battles. After convalescing in Florence
Florence
Florence is the capital city of the Italian region of Tuscany and of the province of Florence. It is the most populous city in Tuscany, with approximately 370,000 inhabitants, expanding to over 1.5 million in the metropolitan area....
, he returned to Belgrade where he resumed his studio work.
Technically brilliant and endlessly imaginative Milan Jovanović proved that portraitures and photographs that capture people and historical events could be as complicated and challenging as any other kind of art form. His camera work in the field, particularly during the Great War, had captured his subjects in movement, like crossing a river at dusk, and in situations that mocked the artifice of studio poses. He is best remembered, however, for his portrait studies of: Ljubomir Nenadovic (1888); Milan Glisic (1888); Jovan Belimarkovic; Beta Vukanović
Beta Vukanovic
Beta Vukanović was a Serbian painter and centenarian. Born in Bamberg, Germany to a Serbian family, Vukanovic initially studied painting at the Kunstgewerbeschule in Munich. She also worked with Anton Ažbe. From 1898 she lived mostly in Belgrade...
(1896); Stojan Novaković
Stojan Novakovic
Stojan Novaković , was a Serbian literary critic, scholar, politician and diplomat, and the foremost Serbian historian of nineteenth century, holding the post of Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Serbia on two occasions.He was born in the western Serbian city of Šabac and died in the southern city of...
(1898); Radoje Domanović
Radoje Domanovic
Radoje Domanović was a Serbian writer and teacher, most famous for his satirical short stories. His few remaining years were a constant fight against consumption...
(1900); Stevan Sremac
Stevan Sremac
Stevan Sremac was a Serbian realist and comedy writer. He is considered one of the best truly humorous Serbian writers.-Biography:...
(1901); Bora Stanković
Borisav Stankovic
Borisav "Bora" Stanković was a Serbian writer belonging to the school of realism. His novels and short stories depict the life of people from South Serbia...
; Đorđe Krstić; Vladislav Petkovic-Dis (1903); Branislav Nušić
Branislav Nušic
Branislav Nušić was a Serbian novelist of Aromanian descent, playwright, satirist, essayist and founder of modern rhetoric in Serbia. He also worked as a journalist and a civil servant.- Biography :...
; Bogdan Popovic (1904); Cica Ilija Stanojevic (1908); and many other contemporaries of his generation.