Ignác Šechtl

He moved from Prague, to Kladno, Plzeň, Bucharest, Prachatice and Nepomuk, and finally to Tábor, where he established the photographic firm Šechtl and Voseček, which survived for three generations.

Contemporary newspapers mention his photographing of the unveiling of the memorial to sculptor Wiltd, and describe it as being successful in spite of the inclement weather on the day.

One unique work that has survived is a photomontage, achieved by double exposure, depicting Ignác Šechtl both as laboratory worker and retouching a photo, in one picture.

Later, on trips to Tábor, he met Catherine Štastná, housekeeper of Josef Němec, the husband of famous writer, Božena Němcová.

At 36, Šechtl finally settled in Tábor, and officially opened his studio in 1876, at house number 333 on Maria Square.

Family tradition says that the same day, in a pub, Šechtl met the commercial traveller Jan Voseček, who very soon became a partner in the firm.

From the years 1876–77, several photos remain of Tábor Square shortly after the renovation of the Town Hall, and a photo-essay documenting the unveiling of the Jan Žižka Memorial by sculptor Josef Václav Myslbek.

In 1878, the weekly newspaper Český Jih announced the founding of the partnership of Alexander Seik and Ignác Šechtl.

However, due to technical difficulties at Plzeň, it appears the first-ever showing was in fact, by Ignác Šechtl, in the Shooting Gallery in Tábor, in 1897.