Maeda Genzō facts for kids
Maeda Genzō (前田 玄造) (1831–1906) was an important Japanese photographer. He came from northern Kyūshū, an island in Japan. Maeda Genzō is remembered for being one of the first people in Japan to successfully take photographs. His work helped bring the exciting new art of photography to Japan.
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Early Photography Studies
Maeda Genzō began his journey into photography in Nagasaki. He studied under two teachers, Jan Karel van den Broek and J. L. C. Pompe van Meerdervoort. These teachers were not expert photographers themselves. In fact, their own attempts to take pictures often failed.
Learning the Wet-Collodion Process
Despite their struggles, Maeda's teachers taught him and other students the wet-collodion process. This was a new way to develop photos at the time. Some of Maeda's fellow students included Furukawa Shumpei, Kawano Teizō, Ueno Hikoma, and Horie Kuwajirō. They all learned the basics of this complex method together.
Meeting Pierre Rossier
A big turning point for Maeda Genzō came in 1858. A Swiss photographer named Pierre Rossier arrived in Japan. Rossier was sent by a company called Negretti and Zambra to take pictures. Maeda was asked to help Rossier and learn even more about photography from him.
Assisting a Master Photographer
Maeda and other students traveled with Rossier around Nagasaki. Rossier took many interesting photographs during this time. He captured images of priests, people asking for money, and even the audience at a sumo wrestling match. He also photographed the foreign settlement and a group picture of Alexander von Siebold with samurai.
Getting Better Supplies
Rossier believed that Maeda's earlier teachers failed because they did not have the right chemicals. So, he gave Maeda a special letter. This letter helped Maeda get the necessary photography equipment and chemicals from a supplier in Shanghai.
First Successful Photograph
Maeda Genzō and his fellow student Furukawa Shumpei bought lenses, chemicals, and special albumen paper with Rossier's help. Using these new materials, they finally succeeded in taking a photograph. This historic moment happened on October 28, 1860.
A Day to Remember
The photograph was taken in Fukuoka. This day is still celebrated in Fukuoka today. It marks a very important step in the history of photography in Japan. Maeda Genzō's dedication and hard work helped bring this amazing technology to his country.
