At a Glance
A former architect who fell in love with photography, Arnold Genthe produced memorable photos of San Francisco artists and visiting cultural icons, including Jack London, Sarah Bernhard, Greta Garbo and Theodore Roosevelt. In the late 1890s, Genthe photographed his nearby neighbors in our nation’s first Chinese community, producing more than 200 images that showed its broad scope from opium dens and Tong gangsters to hard-working craftspeople, entertainers, playful children and upper-class merchants. Many of his photos were taken with their joyous consent. The more unsavory images were captured by one of the first-ever uses of a hidden camera. Join lecturer and filmmaker James Dalessandro as he continues to delve into the history of San Francisco’s notable artists.
