Kraków, W. Maliszewski, M. Rzymkowski – an elderly man with a gray beard in a rare photograph from around...

[PORTRAITPHOTOGRAPH —an elderly man with a gray beard—cabinet-size print]. [ca. 1870]. Photograph measuring 13x9.7 cm on an original mount measuring 15.2x10.5 cm, taken at the studio of W[alery] Maliszewski and M[arceli] Rzymkowski in Kraków.
The subject is depicted full-length, standing next to a balustered railing. He is dressed in a long striped coat, similar to a sukmana, cinched at the waist with a wide, dark sash with tassels, to which a saber is strapped; on his head, a cap trimmed with lambskin; and on his feet, high leather boots. In his hands, he is likely holding a large wooden oar wrapped in protective fabric, which would suggest the profession of a raftsman or river transporter (on the Vistula). On the lower margin of the backing board is the imprint: “Maliszewski and Rzymkowski”. The photograph is mounted on the original cardboard backing. On the reverse, a damaged piece of paper has been glued over an advertising vignette. A small portion of the lower margin of the backing has been cut off; there are localized scuffs and stains. Rare.
W. Maliszewski (1836–1885)—daguerreotypist and professional photographer active in Kraków from 1848 to 1880. He ran a daguerreotype studio founded in 1848 at 430 Mały Rynek, which was later converted into a photography studio. Then, in 1856, he opened a studio at St. Joseph Street No. 3, later moving to 166 Nowy Świat Street (9 Straszewskiego Street). From around 1870 to 1872, he ran a studio at 432 Mały Rynek (now No. 7) together with Marceli Rzymkowski. He was the first permanent daguerreotypist and photographer in Kraków. He was the author of seven photographs of the Main Market Square of unique historical value, including a photograph of the Cloth Hall taken from St. Mary’s Tower. He took stereoscopic photographs, published thematic sets of architectural photographs, and produced photographic calendars for the years 1867–1868 featuring views of the city, monuments, and portraits of actors.