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Itzik Chonovitz
PHOTOGRAPHER OF VILNIUS
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YENTA
AND GERSHON RADOVSKY
Vilnius, Lithuania
(then part of the Russian Empire)
bef 1883
** More Chonovitz Studio Photographs ** |
The following is the known history of the studio photographer, Itzik Chonovitz, son of Judel, according to his applications for opening up various studios, and the Governor's permissions that were found in the historical archives of Vilnius: --Itzik Chonovitz was from citizen caste and was of the Jewish faith. --For two years he studied photography at the studio of Priwalsky. --From 1871 to 1887 the studio of Chonovitz was located at Didzioji (Wielka, Большая) street in house of Prikaz (later in the house of Tiesenhaus, and after that in Syrkin's house.) This information was obtained from the Governor's permission no. 2653, issued on 21 Jul 1871. --In 1887 the studio moved to Kotwicz's (and later to Gleser's) house on the same street (Governor's permission no. 5043, 14 Oct 1887), because of the poor lightning of the previous studio that was created after a new rear annex to the house was built. --From September 1899 the studio was located in the house of the Kholem brothers on Didzioji street (from Governor's permission no. 9964, 13 Sep1899.) --In 1908 the studio was still located in the same location. (Note: This is in contradiction to the street named Bol'shaya ul. mentioned on the backing to the 1906 photo pictured above.) The studio was still extant in 1933 (see below), though the location was unknown. So we can see that Itzik moved his studio several times. Perhaps this was not uncommon. It is also possible that since the name of the studio seems to be "J. Chonovitz," the studio was owned my Judel, Itzik's father. Perhaps this is true, though there is no certain evidence of this one way or the other. As to the different imprints of the various photographs, studios would change the design of the imprint on the back of the photo mount when they ordered new mounts for their studio. One can see the embellishments made to the last backing pictured above. This backing was created in 1906 or later and mentions the "gold medal" and an "honorary diploma," no doubt in regards to the international (photographic) exposition that was held in Antwerp, Belgium in 1906. There is a medal/Maltese Cross that mentions the "Exposition D'Anvers 1906." (Anvers is the French name of the city; Antwerp is the Flemish.) There are images of the front and back of circular medals with inscriptions in both Russian and Polish. They mention King Leopold of Belgium; the flip side of each mention the International Exposition ?condm. Domestic, April-May 1906. As is typical within so many of the imprints found on the reverse side of studio photographs, it is mentioned that the photographic negatives are kept or saved (in case further photographs are requested). THE 1920s
and 1930s
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