Teaching the World Photography: Andor Kraszna-Krausz (1904-1989)

Born in Hungary, Andor Kraszna-Krausz (AKK) studied in Germany and moved to Berlin, working as an influential editor and reviewer on photography and film publications, amongst other activities. He moved to Britain in 1937 and set up Focal Press, which he built up to become the world’s leading photography publisher. By the time AKK retired in 1978, over 1200 titles had been produced, selling over fifty million books, in multiple languages. AKK was a cultured man with interests ranging from motor cars to antiques, literature, and his dogs.  

AKK left his archive to the then National Museum of Photography, Film and Television and established the Kraszna-Krausz Foundation and book awards for photography and the moving image. As part of a commission to celebrate the Kraszna-Krausz Foundation’s fortieth anniversary, Dr Michael Pritchard undertook new research, and this talk presents new insights into AKK’s life and work and discusses his legacy.

Dr Michael Pritchard holds a PhD in history of photography and has been an active photography historian for many years. During his career at Christie’s, he worked on the Kodak Historical Collection readying it for public access at the British Library, and was a director of the Royal Photographic Society (RPS) from 2011 to 2024. He now consults on photography and its history for institutions, photographers, and collections. He edits the British Photo History blog and The PhotoHistorian and is currently researching a history of British photography and the RPS.

Since 1985, the Kraszna-Krausz Foundation has sponsored the now annual Book Awards, the UK’s leading prizes celebrating excellence in photography and moving image publishing. The Awards recognise individuals who have made an outstanding original or lasting contribution to literature concerning photography or the moving image (including film, television, and new media). In addition to the Awards, the Foundation organises a range of events, including talks and symposia, and provides grants in support of publishing relating to photography and the moving image.

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