Black & White Greek Photos – 100+ years ago
Thus, we see why all restoration was necessary, even with their faults. Thanks to this, a monument now stands upright with all its majesty over the Acropolis.
The Philhellene Swiss photographer Fred Boissonnas(1858-1946) was the first foreign photographer who traveled so much in the Greek land from 1903 and for nearly three decades following.
Fred Boissonnas was born in 1858 in Geneva to a family that moved from Marseilles in southern France to Switzerland.
Due to the origin of the family, Fred believed that he was a descendant of Greek navigators; this may explain his interest and love for the Greeks, especially those of the countryside …
Fred Boissonnas first set foot in the Greek island of Corfu in 1903, from where chronologically his first photos are, after this he went to Athens, which he had visited numerous times, and from there he wandered across the entire Greek territory and also in the new countries under Greek unification, such as Macedonia, Thrace, Epirus, Aegean islands, etc.
Generally, he did not leave an inch of Greek soil without recording it with his camera.
Towards the end of his Greek adventure, shortly before 1930, he spent some time in Mount Athos, where he photographed many details of monastic life and the monasteries.
He died in Geneva in 1946.
His work was innovative and proved decisive in the development of Greek photography during the 20th century.
Through photos and albums, he presents a panorama of Greece during the interwar period, also helping to shape the European public opinion of Greece for the same period.
The work of Fred Boissonnas, although known in Europe in the early 20th century, now needs a second showing.
Progress in technical issues, the discovery of color, easy-to-use cameras, plus the ease with which we travel, may make the project appear obsolete, but to the historical glance, it has great value, and it also shows modernism in comparison with other photographers who wandered in Greece at that time.
The artist has recorded things that have disappeared, but also gives us a picture of Greece that extends beyond simple ethnographic pieces of evidence.
His great faith and admiration for this country are transmitted through his work with tenderness and love, which can be seen through his work even today after so many years.
These characteristics give soul to these pieces of paper, which otherwise could remain simple pictures …
Old Photos from Greece
Streets of old Athens. Pictures from Athos showing the difficult life of monks. Rural Greece of another era. Corfu is Fred’s first stop. Peloponnisos with places like Akrata, Korinth, and Andritsaina. Crete and Epirus. All Greek regions are here.
One Response
Rosalind White
Fred Boissonnas photo’s are fantastic. I’m amazed that he got so many people to pose for him.
Do you know where I can either buy A book of his photographs, or find a link to be able to print some out myself?
Regards
Ros White