“Ethnographer behind the camera – János Sági 150” photo exhibition

János Sági captured rural life, old village houses, social events and Keszthely’s famous sites with his camera. The photo exhibition “Ethnographer behind the camera – János Sági 150” commemorates the museum’s first ethnographer, showing the world through his eyes.

János Sági was born in Keszthely 150 years ago, on 23 June 1874. He soon became involved in the work of the Balaton Museum Association, founded in 1898, and from 1902 to 1910 he was head of the ethnography department.
The camera became a tool for ethnographic research from the second half of the 19th century, and with the development of photography, more and more researchers were able to capture the everyday life of villagers, their costumes and buildings.
With his camera, Sági travelled the countryside documenting the landscape, old village houses and farm buildings, social events and festivals. He took pictures of Keszthely’s streets, famous buildings, hotels and the shores of Lake Balaton.
The photo exhibition is a tribute to the museum’s first ethnographer.

Source: Balaton Museum