Josef Löwy was a prominent Viennese photographer whose studio became one of the leading establishments in the Austrian capital city between 1870s and 1900s. Trained as a lithographer and having received an artistic education at the Vienna Academy, Löwy eventually turned to photography in 1861. Since 1864 he regularly exhibited in photographic salons, leading to his participation in the 1873 Vienna World Exhibition, where his work was awarded with medals. This exposure led to his appointment as an official photographer to the Austrian court in the same year.

Löwy’s studio production was highly multifaceted. It included a wide range of subjects – from royal portraits to documentation of industrial sites. Of particular interest are the Löwy studio’s studies of theatre and opera actors, which stand out due to their expert use of mise en scene and performance. After the photographer’s death, the studio was taken over by his widow, Mathilde, who run the operation until 1908. It was purchased by Lowy’s nephew and (presumably) assistant, Gustav Löwy who renamed the business into ‘Art Institute J. Löwy’.

Vigen Galstyan

Biographical details are sourced from:
Durstmüller: Löwy Josef. In: Österreichisches Biographisches Lexikon 1815–1950 (ÖBL). Band 5. Verlag der Österreichischen Akademie der Wissenschaften, Wien 1972, S. 296 f.