Šechtl and Vosecek
Encyclopedia
The photographic studio Šechtl and Voseček was founded in Tábor
(Bohemia
) in 1888 by Ignác Šechtl
, who accepted his assistant Jan Voseček as co-member of his photographic studio.
The history of Šechtl & Voseček Studios goes back to 1863, when Ignác Schächtl
(1840 – 1911) made the decision to leave his work as a clerk in Prague
, to study the new craft of photography, in Kladno
. After training, he opened a studio in Plzeň. In 1869, he decided to leave the city and become an itinerant photographer. He tried his luck in Bucharest
in 1871, and later 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 the same picture.
In 1876, aged 36, Ignác Schächtl finally settled in Tábor
, and officially opened his studio at house #333 on Maria Square (today Nicholas of Hus Square). His son, Josef Jindřich
, was born in 1877. Family tradition says that the same day, in a pub, Šechtl met the commercial traveller, Jan Voseček (1851 – 1936), who very soon became almost a part of the family.
A very important phase in the history of the studio was the period of cooperation with the first photographer in Tábor
, Alexander Seik
(1824 – 1905), which was officially announced in 1878. From this, Ignác Šechtl
got clients, and money to buy modern equipment. After the “united photographic studio” with Seik was dissolved, in 1888, Ignác Schächtl took Jan Voseček into partnership, and the firm became known as "Schächtl & Voseček", later renamed to "Šechtl & Voseček".
Josef Jindřich Šechtl
(1877 – 1954) continued his father's tradition. In 1907 he commenced the building of a modern photographic studio in the main street, where the Hotel Palcát now stands. Josef Jindřich Šechtl was famous for his quality portraits and group photographs. Many of the famous people who visited Tábor at this time were also photographed in the Šechtl and Voseček studios. As with his father, his passion was photojournalism, and he has provided us with a unique photo documentary of his time. Thanks to his attention to detail, his reputation grew, and the family business blossomed.
Josef Šechtl (1925 – 1992) and his wife Marie Šechtlová
(*1928) took over the studio in 1944. Marie in particular, brought a feminine emotive element to their work. In the 1960s, she was among the most successful photographers of “the poetry of the everyday”. Following the nationalisation of the studio by the Communist government in 1953, they continued working as freelance photographers, mounting many exhibitions and producing a number of publications, including Tábor, Jižní Čechy, Hradec Králové, and Loutky. Together, they were a team of art photographers, pioneering color photography, and the use of large photographs for interior decoration.
The small Šechtl & Voseček Museum of Photography has been created, in cooperation with the Škrla family, at their site on Nicholas of Hus Square. This presents the project of digitizing the archive. Three times a year, the museum prepares a themed exhibition of 80–100 pictures, to share this record of the history of Tábor and of photography.
Tábor
Tábor is a city of the Czech Republic, in the South Bohemian Region. It is named after Mount Tabor, which is believed by many to be the place of the Transfiguration of Christ; however, the name became popular and nowadays translates to "camp" or "encampment" in the Czech language.The town was...
(Bohemia
Bohemia
Bohemia is a historical region in central Europe, occupying the western two-thirds of the traditional Czech Lands. It is located in the contemporary Czech Republic with its capital in Prague...
) in 1888 by Ignác Šechtl
Ignác Šechtl
Ignác Šechtl , also known as Ignace Schächtl or Hynek Šechtl, was a pioneer of Czech photography and cinematography...
, who accepted his assistant Jan Voseček as co-member of his photographic studio.
The history of Šechtl & Voseček Studios goes back to 1863, when Ignác Schächtl
Ignác Šechtl
Ignác Šechtl , also known as Ignace Schächtl or Hynek Šechtl, was a pioneer of Czech photography and cinematography...
(1840 – 1911) made the decision to leave his work as a clerk in Prague
Prague
Prague is the capital and largest city of the Czech Republic. Situated in the north-west of the country on the Vltava river, the city is home to about 1.3 million people, while its metropolitan area is estimated to have a population of over 2.3 million...
, to study the new craft of photography, in Kladno
Kladno
Kladno is a city in the Central Bohemian Region of the Czech Republic. It is located 25 km northwest of Prague. Kladno is the largest city of the region and holds a population together with its adjacent suburban areas of more than 110,000 people...
. After training, he opened a studio in Plzeň. In 1869, he decided to leave the city and become an itinerant photographer. He tried his luck in Bucharest
Bucharest
Bucharest is the capital municipality, cultural, industrial, and financial centre of Romania. It is the largest city in Romania, located in the southeast of the country, at , and lies on the banks of the Dâmbovița River....
in 1871, and later in Nepomuk
Nepomuk
Nepomuk is a town in the Pilsen Region of the Czech Republic. It lies on the Mihovka River, some to the south-southwest from the region capital of Pilsen....
and Prachatice
Prachatice
Prachatice is a town in the South Bohemian Region, Czech Republic.-History:The town of Prachatice has its origins in the 11th century, following the beginning of trade on the "Golden Path"...
. Several significant photographs remain from this period. One unique work that has survived is a photomontage, achieved by double exposure, depicting Ignác Šechtl
Ignác Šechtl
Ignác Šechtl , also known as Ignace Schächtl or Hynek Šechtl, was a pioneer of Czech photography and cinematography...
both as laboratory worker, and retouching a photo, in the same picture.
In 1876, aged 36, Ignác Schächtl finally settled in Tábor
Tábor
Tábor is a city of the Czech Republic, in the South Bohemian Region. It is named after Mount Tabor, which is believed by many to be the place of the Transfiguration of Christ; however, the name became popular and nowadays translates to "camp" or "encampment" in the Czech language.The town was...
, and officially opened his studio at house #333 on Maria Square (today Nicholas of Hus Square). His son, Josef Jindřich
Josef Jindrich Šechtl
Josef Jindřich Šechtl was a Czech photographer who specialized in photojournalism and portrait photography...
, was born in 1877. Family tradition says that the same day, in a pub, Šechtl met the commercial traveller, Jan Voseček (1851 – 1936), who very soon became almost a part of the family.
A very important phase in the history of the studio was the period of cooperation with the first photographer in Tábor
Tábor
Tábor is a city of the Czech Republic, in the South Bohemian Region. It is named after Mount Tabor, which is believed by many to be the place of the Transfiguration of Christ; however, the name became popular and nowadays translates to "camp" or "encampment" in the Czech language.The town was...
, Alexander Seik
Alexander Seik
Alexander Seik , also known as Alex Sejk was a pioneer of Czech photography, one of foremost exponents of chromophotography, painter and mayor of city Tábor.- Biography :...
(1824 – 1905), which was officially announced in 1878. From this, Ignác Šechtl
Ignác Šechtl
Ignác Šechtl , also known as Ignace Schächtl or Hynek Šechtl, was a pioneer of Czech photography and cinematography...
got clients, and money to buy modern equipment. After the “united photographic studio” with Seik was dissolved, in 1888, Ignác Schächtl took Jan Voseček into partnership, and the firm became known as "Schächtl & Voseček", later renamed to "Šechtl & Voseček".
Josef Jindřich Šechtl
Josef Jindrich Šechtl
Josef Jindřich Šechtl was a Czech photographer who specialized in photojournalism and portrait photography...
(1877 – 1954) continued his father's tradition. In 1907 he commenced the building of a modern photographic studio in the main street, where the Hotel Palcát now stands. Josef Jindřich Šechtl was famous for his quality portraits and group photographs. Many of the famous people who visited Tábor at this time were also photographed in the Šechtl and Voseček studios. As with his father, his passion was photojournalism, and he has provided us with a unique photo documentary of his time. Thanks to his attention to detail, his reputation grew, and the family business blossomed.
Josef Šechtl (1925 – 1992) and his wife Marie Šechtlová
Marie Šechtlová
Marie Šechtlová was a Czech photographer, one of the proponents of the "poetry of everyday" style.-Chronology:- Awards :...
(*1928) took over the studio in 1944. Marie in particular, brought a feminine emotive element to their work. In the 1960s, she was among the most successful photographers of “the poetry of the everyday”. Following the nationalisation of the studio by the Communist government in 1953, they continued working as freelance photographers, mounting many exhibitions and producing a number of publications, including Tábor, Jižní Čechy, Hradec Králové, and Loutky. Together, they were a team of art photographers, pioneering color photography, and the use of large photographs for interior decoration.
Digitizing the archive
A project of digitizing the archive of Šechtl and Voseček's photographs aims to make available online some 10,000 preserved glass plate negatives from 1860 to 1950s, hundreds of 35mm films (1930 to 1950s), and thousands of medium- and large-format images.The small Šechtl & Voseček Museum of Photography has been created, in cooperation with the Škrla family, at their site on Nicholas of Hus Square. This presents the project of digitizing the archive. Three times a year, the museum prepares a themed exhibition of 80–100 pictures, to share this record of the history of Tábor and of photography.