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Joseph Albert in 1875 (photographer)

Joseph Albert, court photographer of the Bavarian kings (Zeno Photography) in 1875

Joseph Albert (1825 in Munich – 1886 in Munich) was a German photographer and inventor. He was court photographer to the Bavarian royal family, significantly developed the photogravure process, and invented color photogravure.

After studying physics and chemistry, Albert opened a photographic studio in Augsburg in 1850. He further developed photogravure, the first photomechanical printing process, through the use of glass plates.

Albert was appointed "court photographer" to the Bavarian royal family in 1857 and, after separating from his wife, returned to Munich in 1858, where he acquired citizenship. He portrayed the royal family, especially King Ludwig II, and documented his numerous construction projects and undertook photographic tours to his palaces. He also engaged in the reproduction of prints and paintings.

He equipped his studio with a solar camera designed by court photographer Jacob Wothly. Jacob Wothly and Joseph Albert inspired Friedrich Wilhelm Hackländer for his novel character Wilbert.

In 1867, he photographed King Ludwig II of Bavaria at the age of 22.

In 1868, he exhibited his photographs under the name Albertotype at the third exhibition of photographic works in Hamburg. He ran an art publishing house and a photographic printing company, and by 1873 had 50 employees. Color photogravure followed in 1876 as a further development.

His son from his first marriage, Eugen Albert (1856–1929), followed in his father's footsteps and founded the Photographic Union in 1882. He also further developed reproduction techniques, including offset printing.