art history; history of photography; Langhans Photographic Studio; Gallery of Personalities; Langhans House; Langhans Archive; Langhans Gallery Prague

Langhans was one of the most sought-after photographic studios in Central Europe until 1949. Communist totalitarianism destroyed not only the enterprise itself, but also most of its extensive visual archive. However, over nine thousand portraits from the so-called Personality Gallery were, by a happy coincidence, found after the Velvet Revolution. The book System Langhans presents not only a selection from this exceptional collection, but also discusses in detail the history of the studio, the restoration and digitisation of the archive, the reconstruction of Langhans House and, last but not least, the Langhans Gallery Prague.

Langhans was one of the most sought-after photographic studios in Central Europe until 1949. Communist totalitarianism destroyed not only the enterprise itself, but also most of its extensive visual archive. However, over nine thousand portraits from the so-called Personality Gallery were, by a happy coincidence, found after the Velvet Revolution. The book System Langhans presents not only a selection from this exceptional collection, but also discusses in detail the history of the studio, the restoration and digitisation of the archive, the reconstruction of Langhans House and, last but not least, the Langhans Gallery Prague.