Czech inventors

Jakub Husník

(1837-1916)

Jakub Husník was born on 29 March 1837 in Vejprnice, near Pilsen. He was a Czech painter, art teacher and inventor of the improved photolithography method. Husník was one of the ten children of forester. After the attendance of the schools in Hlavatice and Benešov, he completed the Prager six-form high school. In 1853, he entered into the painter academy. He studied in Antwerp with professor Joseph Henri François van Lerius. After his return, he was active in the church of Uhříněves. In 1863, he became a teacher at the High School in Tábor. In 1877, he was appointed as the art professor at the material High School. After one year, he also opened an independent workshop for lithography.

Together with professor Schwarz, he examined the "wet process" when developing photographs. He first discovered the "double tone photograph". In 1893, he perfected the three-colored reproduction for the printing and announced first patents. Husník wrote specialized books concerning his inventions. In 1907, Husník became an honorary member of the photographic society in Vienna and Berlin.

Jakub Husník died on 26 March 1916 in Prague.

Back