Museum of History of Photography in Krakow

1870s portrait of a young woman by Walery Rzewuski, Museum of History of Photography in Krakow

Establishing of the Museum of History of Photography in Krakow back in the 1970s was an initiative of Photographic Society in Krakow. The core of the collection was unique 19th-century negatives of Walery Rzewuski’s photographs.

Walery Rzewuski was a Krakow-born photographer and activist of great reputation, whose works are now not only traces of the past but also examples of excellent craftsmanship. Rzewuski photographed the mid-19th-century Krakow Old Town, Tatra Mountains as well as Jan Matejko’s paintings for documentation purposes and actors from National Theatre.

Since 1986, Museum of History of Photography in Krakow has been an independent institution and it bears the name of the renowned photographer.

Museum of History of Photography in Krakow

The Museum collects and safeguards heritage in both, old photographs and photography equipment from the 20th century. The main exhibition comprises of unique objects that take visitors on a journey to a photography atelier from the past century. It contains such items from the long-gone era as camera obscura or magic lantern.

Museum of History of Photography in Krakow also organises temporary exhibitions and events that always make up an interesting coverage of important social issues. It aims to raise awareness of how important photography has always been in preserving history.