Batty Fischer facts for kids

Jean-Baptiste (Batty) Fischer (born 1877, died 1958) was a dentist from Luxembourg. He was also a very keen amateur photographer. He is famous for taking around 10,000 photos. These pictures show how Luxembourg City grew and changed from the late 1800s until the 1950s.

Early Life and Family

Batty Fischer was born on July 24, 1877. His family lived in a place called Marché aux Herbes. This was right across from the Grand Ducal Palace. His parents, Josef and Marguerite, owned a shop there. They sold fashionable clothes and furs.

Batty was the oldest of three children. His sister was Marguerite, and his brother was Fritz. Later, his brother and sister took over the family shop. After finishing high school, Batty studied dentistry. He went to the Ecole Dentaire in Paris, France.

His Job as a Dentist

When he was 20, Batty Fischer came back to Luxembourg. He opened his own dental office on the Grand-Rue. Later, he moved his office to a building near the Brasserie Pôle Nord. This was close to the Pont Adolphe bridge.

In 1942, he lost his license to practice dentistry. This happened during a time when the Nazis occupied the area. They said he was too supportive of the French. After this, he practiced dentistry from a different location. It was on the corner of Boulevard d'Avranches and Avenue de la Gare.

His Love for Photography

Even though dentistry was his job, Batty Fischer's true passion was photography. He often walked around Luxembourg City with his camera. He was always looking for interesting things to photograph. Batty never married, so he spent a lot of his free time on his hobby.

He was seen as a bit of a dilettante, meaning someone who enjoys an art or science without being a professional. He loved art and music. He spent time with many local painters, writers, and journalists.

Making His Own Lenses

Fischer was also very creative. He even made his own telephoto lenses. These lenses help you take pictures of things that are far away. He would do all the math himself. Then, he would order the special glass parts from a local optician. He put these glass parts into tubes he made himself. These tubes were made from varnished papier-mâché. At that time, you couldn't buy this kind of equipment in stores.

What He Photographed

Batty Fischer loved taking pictures of buildings and interesting places in Luxembourg City. But he also took great photos of people. He captured local men, women, and children in their everyday lives. He often photographed them while they were working.

His pictures often show a lot of life and energy. He was good at catching people doing their normal activities. Sometimes, he even showed them having fun in their free time.

A Special Collection

Fischer's photos are very special. There are so many of them, and they show a continuous record of the city. Other photos from that time are not as complete. Every weekend, when he had free time, Fischer would take his newest photos to the local authorities. They would pay him a few hundred francs. In return, he had to write a short description of the photo's history on the back.

Because of this, Fischer left a full record of how Luxembourg City changed. His photos cover a long period, from the Belle Époque (a beautiful time in history) to the years after World War II.

Batty Fischer passed away in Luxembourg City on December 27, 1958. A roll of film, not fully used, was found in his camera.

His Photo Collection

You can see about 10,000 photos taken by Batty Fischer. These pictures were taken between 1890 and 1958. They are kept at the Photothèque in Luxembourg City.