Karl Ernst Papf

Biography

He came from a family of miners that originated in Freiberg. Finding himself in a cultured city and not wishing to follow the family profession, he found the means to enroll at the Dresden Academy of Fine Arts where, in 1852, he saw his first success with a painting dedicated to his memories of his father.

In 1867, he received an offer of employment from his compatriot Albert Henschel, who operated photography studio, and moved to Brazil with his wife and young son. He initially worked in Recife, creating "fotopinturas" (photographs retouched to look like oil paintings). Then, when Henschel opened more branches in 1872, Papf moved to Salvador and remained there until 1877 when he once again moved, to Rio de Janeiro, seeking greater opportunities. The following year, he was commissioned to paint members of the Imperial Family. In addition to his commercial work, he painted still-lifes and landscapes. Sadly, during this period, his wife died. He was soon remarried, however (to his wife's niece) and had five more children.

In 1880, he settled in Petrópolis, where he represented Henschel's firm, but by 1885 had established his own studio in conjunction with his eldest son, Jorge Henrique. The Imperial Family became one of his regular clients. In 1897, he began to participate in the "Exposição Geral de Belas Artes".

As the rapidly expanding coffee industry created a spurt of growth in São Paulo, Papf once again followed the path of opportunity, buying a farm (called Palmeiras Ranch) in the vicinity and opening a new studio there in 1899. "Photografia Papf" would continue in business until the death of his son, in 1920.