Portrait of a mother and her young son, both posed with a book. Kapunda, South Australia, 1866-67.

Albumen print photograph, Carte De Visite format, 101 x 61 mm (mount); blin-embossed at lower right margin ‘Hartitzsch & Hanssen, Photographers’; the print has a few tiny surface marks, and the mount has lost the very tip of the top right corner.

The little-known business partnership of Otto von Hartitzsch and Charles (Carl) Hanssen appears to have lasted scarcely nine months, and is not listed by Davies & Stanbury (The Mechanical Eye in Australia). From their newspaper advertisements we learn that the pair worked as travelling photographers in regional South Australia, acting on the side as agents for the Adelaide jeweller Wendt, between June 1866 and March 1867. Commencing in Strathalbyn at Mr. Gosling’s residence, they next proceeded to Tanunda – where they used a tent as a makeshift studio – before finally moving on to Kapunda, taking portraits there in the Lord Palmerston Hotel. The two men then parted company. Von Hartitzsch opened his own studio in Adelaide later in 1867, and remained in business until around 1883.

This sweet portrait of a mother and son – both of them posed with a book – was taken in a special ‘photographic room’ at the Lord Palmerston Hotel in Kapunda. It came with a group of Kapunda family portraits from the 1860s-1880s (but sadly without any associated family history).

From the Southern Argus, 28 July 1866:

‘PHOTOGRAPHY. NOTICE. — MESSRS. HARTITZSCH and HANSSEN, Photographers, have commenced the business of their profession at Mr. Gosling’s private residence, STRATHALBYN.. They have also on hand a select assortment of Gold and Silver Watches and Jewellery, for sale for Mr. J. M. Wendt, at Adelaide prices. A guarantee given. Terms, Nett Cash.’

From the Süd Australische Zeitung (Tanunda), 5 September 1866:

‘Hartitzsch & Hanssen, Photographisten, zeigen hiermit e gebenzt an, daß sie nunmehr mit ihrem Zelte und Apparaten angekommen sind und sich ihr Aufenthalt auf 3 Wochen beschränkt. Ihr Zelt befindet sich bei Bean’s Family Hotel, Currie-street. Gruppen und Kinder können nur bis 2 Uhr Nachmittags genommen werden; für Erwachsene ist Sonnenschein durchaus nicht nothwendig, wie Viele irrthümlich glauben.’

(Translation: Hartitzsch & Hanssen, photographers, hereby respectfully announce that they have arrived with their tent and equipment and that their stay is limited to three weeks. Their tent is located at Bean’s Family Hotel on Currie Street. Photographs of groups and children can only be taken up to 2 p.m.; for adults, sunshine is by no means necessary, contrary to the mistaken belief of many).

From the Kapunda Herald and Northern Intelligencer, 22 February 1867:

‘PHOTOGRAPHS ! ! HARTITZSCH & HANSSEN, TRAVELLING PHOTOGRAPHERS, beg respectfully to announce to the Inhabitants of KAPUNDA and the neighbourhood, that they have OPENED a PHOTOGRAPHIC ROOM at the LORD PALMERSTON HOTEL, Kapunda, for a Few Weeks only, and are prepared with every convenience for the production of really First-class Portraits. N.B.- Photographs taken by the Beautiful Ivorytype Process. Views of Buildings, &c., taken to order on Moderate Terms. H. & H. have also an Assortment of GOLD and SILVER WATCHES and JEWELLERY, which will be sold with Mr. J. M. Wendt’s guarantee, at Adelaide Prices.’