Est. 1899 — New York City
Kornweiss
Photography
A historic photography studio preserving over 125 years of silver gelatin portraits, family stories, and the immigrant experience in New York City.
The Art of Portraiture
Silver Gelatin Prints
In the early 1900s, a studio portrait was a luxury — an event. The Kornweiss studios produced silver gelatin prints of extraordinary quality, capturing the faces of New York's immigrant families with care and artistry.
Today, these prints appear in attics, estate sales, and antique markets around the world. Each one represents a family's story waiting to be reconnected.
Browse the Archive →From the Archive
Recovered Photographs
Each image in this archive was produced by the Kornweiss studio over its century-long history. Click through to explore the full collection with historical context.
Four Addresses — One Legacy
From Russia to the Lower East Side
Joseph Kornweiss was born in Russia in 1877 and arrived in America in 1893. He established his first photography studio on Rivington Street in the heart of the Jewish immigrant quarter, producing silver gelatin prints — beautiful portraits that were a luxury item of the era.
Together with his brother Abraham, the “Kornweiss Bro's” operated from studios at 151 and 155 Rivington Street, 26 Canal Street, and 1609 Pitkin Avenue — following the immigrant community as it grew from Manhattan's Lower East Side to Brooklyn's Brownsville neighborhood.
Now, over 125 years later, this archive preserves their legacy and serves as a beacon for families seeking connection with their ancestors.
Read the Full Story →A Beacon for Families
Do You Have a Kornweiss Print?
Kornweiss Photography prints can be found in family collections, antique stores, and estate sales around the world. If you have a photograph bearing the Kornweiss name or one of their New York City studio addresses, you hold a piece of this 125-year story.
We want to hear from you. Share your stories, your prints, your questions — every connection helps piece together the full picture of this remarkable family and their art.