A new exhibition opens on 29 May in the Black House of the Móra Ferenc Museum honouring the 150-year history of photography in Szeged.

The photo history showing is about the life of the citizens of the town of Szeged during the era of the Monarchy. There are a number of curiosities shown, e.g. pictures of the great flood of Szeged, portraits of Munkácsy on his visit to Szeged together with Tisza Lajos, as well as the National Theatre of Szeged in flames.

The exhibition material is to show the life, extraordinary events and catastrophes in Szeged via photos. Over fifty photo studios and "light writing" shops were run from 1859 to WWII in the town called the town of sunshine in Hungary. The first photo is from 1859. The first legal studio was opened by the chemist Antal Rorbach who took a photo series of the railway bridge in Szeged.

In the 19th century, taking photos was not an everyday activity but rarity. Citizens only visited photo shops yearly or on significant family events. During WWI they had their pictures taken with the beloved deceased.

Photographers did not only work in studios but also took photos of imperative events in town. So, there are photos of the taking down work of the Szeged Castle, photos of the Saint Demetrius Church in Szeged where the dome stands right now, but there is also a photo series of the town after the flood.

The most outstanding photos were made by Imre Ravasz in 1885. He photographed the National Theatre in flames just two years after its first opening. Another interesting photo is a portrait of Lajos Tisza, the man who rebuilt the town of Szeged, and Munkácsy. Munkácsy visited Szeged in 1891 when he was collecting material for his monumental painting called 'Original Settlement'. He was in search of real peasant faces in the Planes to be able to portray the figures of original settlers faithfully.