# Bertha Zillessen

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German artist (1872–1936)

Bertha Zillessen Born (1872-10-17)17 October 1872 Orsoy, Germany Died 13 January 1936(1936-01-13) (aged 63) Bautzen, Germany Known for Photography, painting Partner Margarethe Karow

commercial postcard of *Schloss Neusorge in the 1920's*

**Bertha Zillessen** (17 October 1872 – 13 January 1936) was a German painter and photographer.[1] She was the first professional photographer in [Bautzen](/source/Bautzen).

## Biography

Zillessen was born on 17 October 1872, in [Orsoy, Germant](/source/Orsoy%2C_Germany).[2] As a young woman, she moved to [Witten](/source/Witten) and there she began learning about photography. She continued her training in [Berlin](/source/Berlin) and [Düsseldorf](/source/D%C3%BCsseldorf) where she studied with Erwin Quedenfeldt. Around 1908 she moved to [Bautzen](/source/Bautzen) with her partner, Margarethe Karow, and the pair start a photography studio They began the commercial enterprise with portrait photography. Zillessen eventually turned to landscape photography and she became a successful postcard photographer.[3] Her copper [gravure](/source/Gravure) images were published by *Deutschen Heimatbilder* and *Saxon Heimatschutzverein*.[4] Zillessen is considered to be the first professional photographer in [Bautzen](/source/Bautzen).[3]

Zillessen died on 13 January 1936, aged 63, in Bautzen.[2] In 2019, the Museum Bautzen held a retrospective of her work.[4]

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Deutsche_Biographie_1-0)** ["Zillessen, Bertha"](https://www.deutsche-biographie.de/pnd127849610.html). *Deutsche Biographie* (in German). Retrieved 15 August 2020.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Jüdisches_Museum_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Jüdisches_Museum_2-1) ["Bertha Zillessen"](http://objekte.jmberlin.de/person/jmb-pers-504039;jsessionid=A1DE9AF822414A). *Jüdisches Museum Berlin*. Retrieved 15 August 2020.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Saechsische.de_3-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Saechsische.de_3-1) ["Die Frau hinter der Kamera"](https://www.saechsische.de/plus/die-frau-hinter-der-kamera-5024696.html). *Saechsische.de* (in German). Retrieved 15 August 2020.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Museum_Bautzen_4-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Museum_Bautzen_4-1) ["Bertha Zillessen (1872–1936) – Fotografische Entdeckungen"](https://www.museum-bautzen.de/veranstaltungen/ausstellungen/rueckblick/bertha-zillessen/). *Museum Bautzen*. Retrieved 15 August 2020.

## External links

- Media related to [Bertha Zillessen](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Bertha_Zillessen) at Wikimedia Commons

Authority control databases International ISNI VIAF GND WorldCat Artists Photographers' Identities People Deutsche Biographie DDB

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