Photographer Johan Bakhuis was an early proponent of using electric lamps hidden to illuminate a subject in darkened interior spaces. Although the gentleman in this photograph appears to hold a large candle or torch before him, it may be an armature disguising an electrical cord and bulb, which he scrims using one hand. (smoke however does seem to float above the light source)

In his “Light Study” from 1903, its documented that he used a light bulb hidden behind an oil lamp to illuminate his bearded subject while a later 1906 photograph of the same title employed an electric “glow light”. This should not be confused with so-called “flashlight” photography, which traditionally involved the burning of magnesium powder held in a tray, held aloft by the photographer in a tubular assembly behind a fixed camera. (although later, electricity was used as the magnesium ignition source)

This is the sixth photogravure of seven included within Art historian Richard Stettiner’s text essay printed for the portfolio, which can be found under the group heading for this work. Pagination on index page indicates JOH. A. BAKHUIS, Olst in Holland.

Johan A. Bakhuis: 1857-1934   (Olst | Amersfoort)

Amateur photographer Johan A. Bakhuis exhibited as early as 1888 in Amsterdam. He is listed in 1891 in the Photographic News of London when he won the bronze medal for amateurs taking part in the Amsterdam International Photographic Exhibition. He  was said to “possess considerable merit, as also does the collective exhibit of the Haarlem Amateur Photo Club.” –(October 9, 1891)

Exhibition | Publication record for Johan Bakhuis – 1888-1907 (translated)

Algemeen Handelsblad 20 September 1888: participated in the exhibition Amsterdam 1888 Mint building: children’s groups; PhJ 1891, pp. 101-102 awarded exhibition Amsterdam 1888 Mint building landscapes in the Netherlands and studies and exhibition AFV Amsterdam 1889; PhJ 1891, p. 104 awarded mutual competition AFV; Lux 1889-1890, p. 22 awarded Exhibition AFV 1889, Amsterdam.; Lux 1889-1890 opposite p. 40 supplement December 1889: ‘To the Maliebaan’ in collotype by Loman & Co.; Lux 1891-1892, p. 63 awarded exhibition 1891 Militiezaal Amsterdam; Lux 1891-1892, p. 88 awarded exhibition Amsterdamsche Courant, Amsterdam 1891 Brakke Grond; Lux 1893-1894, p. 223 entry exhibition Maastricht 1894 Augustijnerlokaal; Lux 1893-1894, pp. 323, 346 awarded exhibition Groningen 1894 De Harmonie; Lux 1897, p. 477 participation in exhibition Dordrecht Collections: Museum für Kunst und Gewerbe, Hamburg (Sammlung Juhl) Lit. Die Kunst in der Photographie 1902; Hansma 1903-1907; Leijerzapf 1978, p. 90; RKD artists ⎯ Source: Bakhuis, Joh. (1857-1934) : List of Dutch amateur photographers and their circle before 1900: Dissertation: Mattie Boom: Doctoral degree: Erasmus University Rotterdam: “Kodak in Amsterdam The Rise of Amateur Photography in the Netherlands 1880-1910” (pp. 145-46)