Witcomb, Alejandro S

Alexander S. Witcomb - also known as Alejandro Witcomb in Argentina - was born in January 1838, in the city of Winchester, in the southeastern part of England. His work is considered historical heritage of Argentina, where he established the first photography studio. Witcomb studied photography in France, then moved to Rio de Janeiro, where he worked as a merchant for a time. In 1872, he moved again to Montevideo, where he worked in a bank and later as a photographer in the city of Mercedes. Witcomb moved again to Rosario, Argentina, where he worked with Christiano Junior, from whom he later acquired his studio and negatives. The partnership lasted until Witcomb traveled to Buenos Aires. Witcomb not only took photos in his studio but also on the streets, where he photographed the social life of Argentina. Due to his influences, Witcomb made several portraits of various Argentine presidents, as well as the upper class of Buenos Aires in their social gatherings. In 1880, Witcomb established his own studio, located on Florida Street, which later became the most traditional photography studio in Argentina. It started as a photography studio and then expanded its activities to an art gallery where new artists had the opportunity to showcase their work. After Witcomb's death in Buenos Aires in 1905, his son took his place and continued with the exhibitions and work until his death in 1945. The company continued to operate, being managed by Witcomb's partners until 1970, when the material became part of the General Archive of the Nation as evidence of Argentina's history recorded in photographs. The Witcomb collection has approximately 500,000 negatives, although people from his time stated that the General Archive of the Nation may have received approximately 700,000 negatives at that time to be part of the archive collection.