Ueno Hikoma

Ueno Hikoma (Jap.上 野 彦 马; * October 15, 1838 in Nagasaki, † May 22, 1904 ) was one of the first Japanese photographer. He is known for his outstanding portraits, in which he held a number of major Japanese and foreigners, and for his excellent landscapes, particularly of Nagasaki and its surroundings. In the history of Japanese photography, he is one of the most important figures of the 19th century. He was both commercially and artistically successful and has numerous other Japanese photographers significantly influenced.

Origin

A number of Ueno Hikomas ancestors had worked as a portrait painter.

Ueno's father was Ueno Toshinojō (also known as Ueno Shunnojō, 1790-1851 ), a merchant who was in the service of the Shimazu clan. It was long attributed to him, to have made ​​1841 the first Japanese to a daguerreotype, but this is now refuted. Ueno Toshinojō but imported for Nariakira, the daimyo of the Shimazu clan, actually a daguerreotype camera, probably the first of its kind in Japan.

Life

Ueno Hikoma first studied classical Chinese literature, and continued his education in 1852 at a medical school, where he studied chemistry at the Belgian John LC Pompe van Meerdervoort. Pompe van Meerdervoort had a camera and was - even though he had little experience as a photographer - Ueno Hikoma instruction in the use of this camera. However, Ueno was only decided by the contact with the Swiss photographer Pierre Rossier, to pursue a career in this branch of the profession itself.

1862 Ueno opened a photo studio in Nagasaki, which existed until the late 19th century. He also began to import cameras. After a long start-up time Ueno Hikoma became known quickly. Several times he was mentioned in guidebooks and literary works, including Edmond Cotteaus Un touriste dans l' Extrême -Orient in 1884 and in 1887 Pierre Loti's novel Madame erschienenem Chrysanthème. The portrayed by him included the then Russian Crown Prince, the future Nicholas II.

In his studio Ueno made ​​several important Japanese photographers of the 19th century, including Uchida Kuichi ( 1844-1875 ), Tomishige Rihei ( 1837-1922 ) and Ueno Yoshima. A long and fruitful cooperation connected him with the photographer Felice Beato operating in Japan. Commercially he was so successful that he was a branch in Vladivostok and in 1891 opened offices in Shanghai and Hong Kong in 1890.

Ueno showed his photographs at least two world expositions, namely in Vienna in 1873 and in Chicago in 1893. In the latter, he was awarded " for good taste and artistic skill" with a medal.

Price

Since 2000 will be awarded at the photo competition Kyushu Sangyo University, the " Ueno Hikoma Prize", an award for young photographers.