Arnold Genthe

Arnold Genthe (1869-1942) was a German-born American photographer known for his portraits of celebrities and his documentation of the 1906 San Francisco earthquake. Genthe emigrated to the United States in 1895 and initially worked as a tutor before pursuing photography. He opened a studio in San Francisco and quickly gained a reputation for his portraits of prominent individuals, including politicians, actors, and writers. Genthe's work was characterized by his use of natural light and his ability to capture the personality and essence of his subjects. 

In addition to his portrait work, Genthe is also known for his documentation of the aftermath of the 1906 San Francisco earthquake and fire. He captured some of the earliest and most iconic images of the disaster, which were later published in his book Pictures of Old Chinatown. These photographs are considered some of the most important visual records of the event. 

Genthe's work was widely exhibited during his lifetime, and he was a member of the Photo-Secession, a group of photographers led by Alfred Stieglitz that sought to promote photography as a fine art. Genthe's photographs are held in the collections of several major institutions, including the Library of Congress and the Metropolitan Museum of Art. His legacy as a photographer is marked by his ability to capture both the intimate moments of individual lives and the broader historical events of his time.