Zawód: fotograf teatralny w XIX wieku

The article deals with the profession of theater photographer and the question of its tradition in Poland. Starting from a brief discussion and listing of the first theater photographers by Ignacy Płażewski in his book Dzieje polskiej fotografii 1839-1939 (The History of Polish Photography 1839-1939; 2003), the text verifies and develops Płażewski’s findings. Based on source research of the collection of Polish theater photography up to about 1918, scattered in many museums, libraries and archives in Poland and Ukraine, an overview of the most important theatrical photographers and photographers in the 19th century and their connections to professional theater in the Polish lands has been proposed. An additional research question is an attempt to determine the date of birth of the profession of theater photographer based on source material.