Arnold Genthe

San Francisco earthquake and fire of 1906

This photograph looks down Sacramento Street in the direct aftermath of the San Francisco earthquake of 1906, in which roughly…

Woodrow Wilson, President, portrait photograph, Aug. 7, 1916

Wilson, Woodrow, President, portrait photograph, Aug. 7, 1916

President Woodrow Wilson would become one of several presidents to sit for Genthe’s portrait photographs, August 7, 1916. Wilson commissioned…

Travel views of Europe, ca. 1904-1938

In addition to his famous photo series of dancers, Genthe also photographed the people and places of Europe, such as…

Travel views of Europe, ca. 1904-1938

Here Genthe captures street musicians during his European travels, ca. 1904-1938.

Street of the gamblers (by day), Chinatown, San Francisco, ca. 1896-1906

One of a series of Genthe’s photographs of the San Francisco Chinatown, ca. 1896-1906. Genthe reportedly snapped his Chinatown photos…

Chinese in Chinatown, San Francisco

Two small children in Chinatown in front of two men reading handbills on a wall.

Mrs. Woodrow Wilson, (formerly Mrs. Norman Galt), portrait photograph, Feb. 16, 1915

Wilson, Woodrow, Mrs. (formerly Mrs. Norman Galt), portrait photograph, Feb. 16, 1915

President Woodrow Wilson commissioned Genthe to take photographs of his second wife, Edith Galt, and enthusiastically praised the resulting portraits,…

North gateway to the forecourt of the gardens at Kykuit, John D. Rockefeller's estate, designed by William Welles, ca. 1916-1918

The above photo is one of a series of photographs taken of the Rockefeller garden estates and commissioned by John…

John D. Rockefeller, Sr., half-length portrait, seated, 1918

Rockefeller, John D. Sr., half-length portrait, seated, 1918

At the peak of his career, Genthe was commissioned to take portrait photographs of top industrialists including J.P. Morgan, Thomas…

Theodore Roosevelt portrait, Sept. 8, 1916

Roosevelt, Theodore portrait, Sept. 8, 1916

During his career, Genthe was commissioned to photograph a number of prominent politicians including three consecutive presidents, namely, Theodore Roosevelt…

Jessie Wilson (Mrs. Francis B. Sayre), portrait photograph, Nov. 24, 1913

Wilson, Jessie (Mrs. Francis B. Sayre), portrait photograph, Nov. 24, 1913

Due to his unique style and his extensive network of prominent contacts, Genthe was commissioned to take portrait photographs for…

Rainbow at the Grand Canyon, ca. 1906-1912

This photo was reproduced in Collier’s in 1912 and was among the first color photographs to appear in American publications,…

Interior of J.P. Morgan's library, ca. 1912

J.P. Morgan's library interior, ca. 1912

This photo of J.P. Morgan’s library displays Genthe’s cutting-edge work with color photography, ca. 1912.

Genthe photograph of a woman entitled Study: head and hand

This photograph garnered Genthe some of his first critical acclaim. With it he won the Grand Prize for Best Individual…

Pavlova, Anna, Madame, Nov. 8, 1915

World famous ballerina Anna Pavlova was among Genthe’s prestigious clientele, November 8, 1915.

Jack London, portrait photograph, ca. 1906-1916

London, Jack, portrait photograph, ca. 1906-1916

Through his extensive networks, including his membership in the Bohemian Club, Genthe established close connections with some of the foremost…

Duncan, Anna dancing, ca. 1911-1942

Anna Duncan, one of Isadora Duncan’s protégés, who were collectively known as the “Isadorables,” captured dancing on the beach, ca.…

Portrait photograph of Ignacy Paderewski

Paderewski, Ignacy portrait

Portrait of Polish pianist and composer Ignacy Paderewski.

The dance: allegro; Other Title: Hilda Beyer, dancer, June 1913

Above is one of a series of pioneering images that Arnold Genthe took of dancers, including those trained in the…

Charred corpse of a victim of the 1906 San Francisco earthquake and fire, April 1906

Genthe’s images of the San Francisco earthquake and fire, like the one above of a charred corpse, capture the destruction…

Duncan, Isadora, 1878-1927

Famed dancer Isadora Duncan was a friend and lover of Genthe and subsequently became one of his most frequently photographed…

Germany: Looking across the Rhine from Cologne

A group of people stand in the foreground with some of them looking across the Rhine River in Cologne.

Woman sitting on steps holding a basket, New Orleans, ca. 1920-1926

Woman sitting on steps holding a basket, New Orleans; Other Title: Praline vendor, New Orleans, ca. 1920-1926

Portrait photograph of Greta Garbo, July 1925

Garbo, Greta portrait, July 1925

Genthe’s list of prominent clients included actress Greta Garbo, July 1925.

George II, King of Greece, portrait photograph, ca. 1942

George II, King of Greece, portrait photograph, ca. 1942.

White House, Nov. 1913

A Genthe photo of the South Lawn of the White House, November 1913.

Wilde, Oscar, 1882

This image, known as Oscar Wilde No. 18 (1882), led to the 1884 Supreme Court case Burrow-Giles Lithographic Co. v.…

Genthe family crest

Photograph of the Genthe family crest, which dates back to the sixteenth century.

Portrait of Billie Burke by Arnold Genthe, 1911

Burke, Billie portrait by Arnold Genthe, 1911

Portrait of Billie Burke, 1911, by Arnold Genthe.

Portrait Photograph of Babette Goldman, 1917

Goldman, Babette Portrait, 1917

On January 21, 1890, Henry Goldman married Babette Kaufman (1871-1954), the daughter of another elite German-Jewish family in New York.…

Interior of J.P. Morgan’s Private Library, New York, NY, ca. 1912

J.P. Morgan’s Private Library, Interior, New York, NY, ca. 1912

This photograph shows the West Room of J. P. Morgan’s library. The room served as Morgan’s private study. The photograph…