Biography: 19th Century photographer Hugues Krafft

Biography: 19th Century photographer Hugues Krafft

MonoVisions Black & White Photo Contest 2025

Hugues Krafft (1853 – 1935) was a born in Paris. He travelled around the world, and visited Japan in 1882–1883. He left numerous quality photographs of the period.

He was among the first to use instantaneous photography in Japan (he used a Zeiss camera with gelatine-silver bromide plates, a process which became widely available in 1880), which allowed him to take vivid pictures in an open environment, in contrast to the many staged studio photographs made by his predecessors.

Artillery unit at the Koishikawa arsenal, Tokyo, in 1882.

Artillery unit at the Koishikawa arsenal, Tokyo, in 1882. Photo by Hugues Krafft

Felice Beato with Saigō Tsugumichi (seated in front) in 1882.

Felice Beato with Saigō Tsugumichi (seated in front) in 1882. Photo by Hugues Krafft

The house of Saigo Tsugumichi.

The house of Saigo Tsugumichi. Photo by Hugues Krafft


MonoVisions Black & White Photo Contest 2025