XX a. I pusės Rokiškio fotografai: nauji atradimai (M. Germanas ir J. Masiulis)

LTRokiškio krašto muziejus 2014 m. išleido katalogą Rokiškis fotografijose 1914–1940 m., kurio visas tiražas (400 vnt.) vos per pusmetį buvo parduotas ir išdalintas. Leidinio įvadiniame straipsnyje minimi keletas Rokiškyje dirbusių fotografų: Leiba Vinokuras, P. Šinkūnas, O. Čadovičius, Jokūbas Skrinskas, Mordechajus Germanas, fotoateljė „Naujiena“. Apie juos nedaug žinoma, nes senoji fotografija mažai tyrinėta, muziejuje saugoma archyvinė medžiaga apie fotografus gana fragmentiška. Išlikusios fotografijos su spaudais, vokas su reklaminiu tekstu, kai kurios pavardės ir adresai senose telefonų abonentų sąrašų knygose. Šio leidinio rengimas, nuotraukų tyrinėjimas tapo gera proga surinkti informaciją apie Rokiškio krašto fotografus. Jau išleidus fotografijų katalogą, vienu metu buvo renkami duomenys apie du Rokiškio fotografus – Mordechajų Germaną ir Joną Masiulį. Apie Germano gyvenimą nežinota nieko, išskyrus tai, kad jo vardas iš M raidės [p. 108].

ENIn 2014, the museum published a new catalogue “Rokiškis in Photographs 1914 – 1940”. In half a year all copies (400 units) were sold and distributed. In the introductory article of the publication several Rokiškis photographers are mentioned: L. Vinokuras, P. Šinkūnas, O. Čadovičius, J. Skrinskas, M. Germanas, photo studio Naujiena. There was little knowledge about them, as the old photography was little researched. Only fragmented archival material about the photographers is preserved in the museum. The photographs with prints, an envelope with promotional text, some surnames and addresses in old telephone directories have survived. The preparation of this publication, investigation of photos made assumptions for the collection of information on Rokiškis region photographers. Between 2014 and 2016, from Rokiškis region inhabitants Giedrė Masiulytė-Burbienė and Algirdas Masiulis we got over 3,000 units of exhibits evidencing life and activity of their father Jonas Masiulis (1904–1989), who was a photographer, postman, and collector. J. Masiulis, at the age of 70, started to take notes of the most important events and dates of his family and relatives. Family documents, photographs, broadband negatives given to the museum reveal the life of a Lithuanian photographer’s family. J. Masiulis, who started to take photos in the 4th decade of the 20th century, later became a high-level amateur, also during some periods of life he earned additional money for living from this craft.The research results proved that Rokiškis photographers Mordechajus and Judelis Germanai taught J. Masiulis to take photos. Nothing was known about the Germanai life. In 2016, the museum acquired 15 photographs with Germanai photographers’ prints. People not only from Lithuania but also from other countries got interested in photos uploaded online, including a photo artist from the Netherlands Sara Mei Herman, a granddaughter of Rokiškis photographer Mordechajus Germanas (1901 – 1985). In 2015, she arrived in Rokiškis and brought the collection of family photos taken in South Africa, the biggest part of which was created in Germanas’ photo studio. The work, which started with a review of several photos, grew into an untangling of the life of one Jewish photographers family. During two years of correspondence, the history of the Jewish family Germanai was revealed. Even three members of the Germanai family (Mordechajus, Isakas, and Judelis) were photographers. The present article reveals the fragments of life and work of Rokiškis two photographers – Jewish and Lithuanian – that developed after long and thorough searches, with the participation not only of the author of the present article but also the people from the Netherlands and Israel.