Photography Business in Urban Western Siberia in the Second Half of the XIX – Early XX Century

Abstract

Photographic studios provide an excellent example of entrepreneurial activity, as well as a deep insight into the routine and innovations in West-Siberian cities and towns during the modernization period. This article describes the development of photography business in Western Siberia in the second half of the XIX – early XX century. The historiography analysis of this issue showed a rather poor scientific coverage. The study covered the regions of Tomsk, Tyumen, Novosibirsk, Kemerovo, Omsk, and Altai. The article introduces unpublished archival documents and photographs. Archival cases showed how the authorities licensed private photographic studios, the motivation behind the permissions, the number of photo salons, commercial rivalry, labor optimization, profits, and customer attitude. The author believes that photography catalyzed modernization of urban routine and democratized the local society: any citizen had the right to start a photographic studio, where they could serve any customers, regardless of their social status.