Biography: 19th Century Architecture photographer Albert Lévy

Biography: 19th Century Architecture photographer Albert Lévy

MonoVisions Black & White Photo Contest 2025

Albert Levy (1844 – 1907) was a French photographer active in Europe and the United States. Most active in the 1880s and 1890s, he was a pioneer of architectural photography.

There are indications that Albert Levy was a photographer who also worked variously as bookseller, editor and manufacturer. He was also working in France in 1876 and in the United States in the 1880s and 1890s. He was one of the few photographers to have two studios at the same time in America and Europe.

Apart from photographer and bookseller, he was also pioneer in the manufacture of the gelatin dry plates in 1878. Because of the work he developed, he was an early competitor of George Eastman.

21 Fairfield (ca. 1883), photograph by Albert Levy; Ryerson and Burnham Libraries Book Collection, The Art Institute of Chicago

21 Fairfield (ca. 1883), photograph by Albert Levy; Ryerson and Burnham Libraries Book Collection, The Art Institute of Chicago

261 Clarendon and 65 Commonwealth (ca. 1883), photograph by Albert Levy; Ryerson and Burnham Libraries Book Collection, The Art Institute of Chicago

261 Clarendon and 65 Commonwealth (ca. 1883), photograph by Albert Levy; Ryerson and Burnham Libraries Book Collection, The Art Institute of Chicago

299 Berkeley (ca. 1880), photograph by Albert Levy; Ryerson and Burnham Archives, The Art Institute of Chicago

299 Berkeley (ca. 1880), photograph by Albert Levy; Ryerson and Burnham Archives, The Art Institute of Chicago

245-247 Commonwealth (ca. 1883), photograph by Albert Levy; Ryerson and Burnham Libraries Book Collection, The Art Institute of Chicago

245-247 Commonwealth (ca. 1883), photograph by Albert Levy; Ryerson and Burnham Libraries Book Collection, The Art Institute of Chicago


MonoVisions Black & White Photo Contest 2025