An idyllic scene shows birch trees framing a landscape covered by fresh snowfall. The pond at center and outbuildings beyond suggest a farm location.

Hermann Linck: 1866-1938

A commercial photographer from Winterthur in Switzerland, his achievements up to about 1909 were printed on the verso of a portrait cabinet card bearing his authorship H. Linck Winterthur on the recto:

PHOTOGRAPHY HERMAN LINCK 38, ST. GEORGENSTRASSE WINTERTHUR

Latest awards: International Exhibition of Photography: AMSTERDAM 1902•ST. PETERSBURG 1903. MAINZ, Member of the Jury- GENOA 1905. Gold Medal MILAN 1906, Hors concours, Member of the Jury-Golden Medal: FRANKFURT /M.1907-TURIN 1907 • “PHOTOGRAPHERS ASSOCIATION of AMERICA 1907: Honorary Diploma • DRESDEN 1909, Judge. SPECIALITY: Enlargements of each image. Photographs of this image can be ordered at any time. (translated)

Hermann Linck was part of a three-generation Swiss photographic dynasty. Six photographers from the Linck family, spanning 1864 to 1949 are documented as part of the Winterthur Glossary online resource. The following background on the Linck family appears as part of the Winterthur Libraries | Winterthur Collection:

The history of the Lincks is an interesting success story of a German immigrant family. Three sons of the saltpeter maker Philipp Linck-Sauter (1786-1848) left their hometown of Hausen ob Verena in Württemberg. The material hardship in those German regions was so great that there was a mass emigration at that time, especially overseas. The three brothers Johann (1831-1900), Philipp (1835-1888) and Jakob (1838-1893) managed to make the leap to Switzerland. In their new homeland they rose from penniless immigrants to respected citizens. The second oldest of this trio, Philipp, became a construction manager in various places in Switzerland. The youngest, Jakob, ran a mechanical workshop in St. Gallen.

The eldest, Johann, set up camp in Winterthur in 1863 and became a photographer. He was initially a business partner of the photographer Ulrich Güttinger until he opened his own photo studio at St. Georgenstr. 38 (later Jakobstr. 4) in 1864. This was the foundation stone of the Linck dynasty of photographers. For three generations they were the salon photographers of the Swiss bourgeoisie.

This commissioned photography created a mirror of Winterthur and Zurich society. It was streets and squares, individual houses, towns from hills, villas and rooms in them, public buildings, industrial halls and their products, in particular locomotives, people (company owners, families as well as employees and workers) as individual portraits, couple shots, groups, family portraits, associations, school classes, workforces, clubs and much more that made the Lincks into picture chroniclers of their time. The sober, clear imagery, not special but normal, i.e. a pedantic objectivity, characterized these photographs. The works of the individual Lincks can only be recognized in nuances.

Hermann Linck:  1866-1938
The marriage to Pauline Isler (1844-1930) in 1865 resulted in two sons, Hermann (1866-1938) and Ernst (1874-1963). Both also chose the profession of photographer. Hermann took over his father’s business in 1894 and Ernst ran a photo studio with cousin Philipp (1862-1921), son of the construction manager Philipp Linck, in Zurich at Uraniastrasse 9 from 1900-1917. He then opened his own business at Rämistrasse 3.

Hans Linck-Gugolz (1902-1949), son of Hermann, was the representative of the 3rd generation who ran his father’s and grandfather’s studio in Winterthur. His cousin Max P. Linck (1898-1974) was a photographer and painter. His sphere of activity remained in Zurich. Hans Linck’s early suicide also marked the end of the studio in Winterthur and the photographer dynasty. In a picture story of 70 photographs, Hermann Linck describes the living and life of the Salomon Volkart family in the Villa Wehntal (demolished in 1930 to make way for the accident administration building on what is now General-Guisan-Strasse). For much more information about the Lincks and many photographic documents, see the illustrated book: “The Linck Photographer Dynasty in Winterthur and Zurich” by Irma Noseda (Winterthur City Library 914.434)

Further details on Hermann Linck’s background come from his Wikipedia entry:

Hermann Linck… had learned the photography trade in his father’s company, but also attended arts and crafts classes at the Winterthur Technical College . For five years he gained experience in related companies in Leipzig , Lyon and Paris . Hermann Linck took over the photography studio from his father in 1894 and ran it for 40 years. In 1934 he handed it over to his son Hans Linck.

Hermann Linck maintained intensive relationships with the Winterthur bourgeoisie, from whom a large part of his commissions came, and he took on numerous offices. For example, he was on the board of the Winterthur Art Association and the Swiss Photographers’ Association.