Figure 1.--This Bugarian cabinet card is undated. If it had been a German card we would have dated it to the late-1870s, but as it is Bulgarian the early-1880s seems more likely. It was probably taken soon after the Russo-Turkish War and the beginning of Bularian independence. Note that the family has completely rejected Ottoman influence. Also notice the 'Caninet Portrait' text. This was common in Eastern European cabinet cards. THe photographer has a Frenmch/Grman nme, perhps Alsatian. .

We think Bulgarian photographic trends, at least after independence was partially achieved (1878-79), were very silimar to those in the rest of Europe, especially Germany. Bulgaria was, hiwever, under Ottoman ruile for centuriues and as a result was technologically behind non-Ottoman areas. Most early photographs we have found were taken by foreign European photgraphers beginning about 1880. And tend to seeother Europeans opening studios in Bulgaria. Germans were especially important. The general pattern in the Balkans after the various countries achieved independence was for foreigners to setup studios. The technological backwarness of the Ottoman Empire prevented the development of a photograhic industry. Photography of course was just one technical area. Ottoman society was simply incapable of generating science and technology. An Ottoman control restricted contacts with techniclly advanced Europe. And the 19th century brought an expolsion of modern technology in Europe. Bulgaria because of the Ottomons was unable to participate in this. This was the general pattern in the Muslim world. They had to import technology from Europe or hire Europeans. So far the earlist photographs we have found are from about 1880 and were studios set up by foreigners. The phoographhere has a French/German name. We also see Greeks and Armenians active. Both were countries with dispersed populations in Balkans and Middle East, areas controlled by the Ottoman Empire.

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Created: 3:12 PM 8/12/2016
Last updated: 2:19 AM 12/10/2018