#Exhibit of the Month

The main parts of the camera include the body, bellows, lens, and viewfinder system. The body consists of two lacquered walnut wood frames, joined by a folding black textile bellows that allows the necessary extension for focusing. On the front panel is the Agfa anastigmat lens, mounted in a Compur-type shutter produced by F. Deckel in Munich. It features a foldable "brilliant" viewfinder for both portrait and landscape orientation. It uses glass photographic plates coated with a photographic emulsion, mounted in walnut wood holders, with a frame size of 9x12 cm.
The walnut wood model, considered the flagship "Agfa Isolar Luxus," was designed by the A.H. Rietzschel factory in Munich, acquired by AGFA in 1925, which continued producing this type of camera under its own name until the late 1920s.
The piece was restored by Mihail Culașco, Restoration Department of NMHM.
Brief History of the Camera
The history of the camera spans 200 years, evolving from the camera obscura to today's digital devices. Key milestones include: the first permanent photograph in 1826 by French physicist Joseph Nicéphore Niépce, using a wooden box and a plate coated with bitumen of Judea; the invention of the first photographic process - daguerreotype - in 1839 by Frenchman Louis Daguerre, marking the official birth of photography; the invention of calotype, based on the negative/positive principle, by British physicist and chemist Fox Talbot; the invention of wet collodion plates by Englishman Frederick Scott Archer and dry glass plates by Richard Leach Maddox and John Huds Bennet; the introduction of flexible roll film and the launch of the first Kodak camera by American inventor George Eastman; the release of the first 35 mm film camera by German company "Leica"; the launch of the first instant camera "Polaroid," invented by American Edwin Land. Finally, starting in 1975, this path led to the digital photography revolution. Each successive step made cameras smaller and faster, significantly improving image quality.
The first photographic studio in Chișinău was opened in 1854 by Eduard Glewski, and before World War I, there were already about 100 photography studios in Bessarabia.
The collection of the National Museum of History of Moldova includes over 30 cameras, made in Austria, Germany, France, USSR, Japan, and China, dating from the late 19th century to the 2000s. Among them are folding bellows cameras, BOX-type cameras, single-lens reflex (SLR) and twin-lens reflex (TLR) cameras, as well as digital (DSLR) cameras.

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Events Archive

Book Launch: "Two Missions in Germany. Unofficial About the Official"

December 17, 2024

On December 17, 2024, the National Museum of History of Moldova hosted the launch of the two-volume book "Two Missions in Germany. Unofficial About the Official", written by Igor Corman-historian, diplomat, politician, and entrepreneur from the Republic of Moldova. The event marked the author's 55th anniversary and brought together notable figures in diplomacy, history, and literature, who paid tribute to the author through their speeches.

Igor Volnițchi, a communication expert and the book's first reader, described "Two Missions in Germany. Unofficial About the Official" as a work with a strong historical character, detailing significant events from the periods it covers. "It's an easy-to-read book that showcases Igor Corman's subtle sarcasm and fine humor. It provides insight into what it means to be a diplomat and serves as an encouragement for ambassadors to write their memoirs," said Volnițchi.

Eugen Sava, Ph.D., general director of the National Museum of History of Moldova, highlighted that the two volumes represent an excellent historical study, shaped by the author's personal perspective as a diplomat.

Mihai Popov, former Minister of Foreign Affairs and member of the Diplomatic Council of the MFA, reminisced about his first interaction with Igor Corman in 1995 at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He congratulated Corman for remaining the same professional diplomat, skilled communicator, and dignified individual throughout his years of diplomatic, political, and personal experience. "These books are just the beginning-or a continuation", Popov added.

Aurelian Dănilă, Ph.D. in Art Studies, university professor, and diplomat, described Igor Corman as a "gifted diplomat" and called the book "the best and most comprehensive document on Germany." "It is a deep analytical study, written by a professional hand, by someone who lived these experiences and recounted them in an engaging manner. This extraordinary work serves as inspiration for other ambassadors to follow suit," Dănilă said.

Ion Stăvilă, historian and diplomat, emphasized that launching a book is the greatest gift one can give themselves, as a book is like a monument that endures beyond one's lifetime. "Two Missions in Germany. Unofficial About the Official" is not a classic memoir but a serious monographic study of contemporary German history and Moldovan-German bilateral relations. "It is a valuable and engaging resource for students and novice diplomats, breaking many myths about diplomatic work. Elegantly written, it offers readers a unique pleasure. I've discovered a writer in Igor Corman and urge him not to stop here," Stăvilă declared.

Gheorghe Postică, professor and Ph.D., noted, "This work makes a remarkable contribution to understanding not only contemporary German history but also bilateral relations, demonstrating the importance of innovative diplomatic approaches and the author's personal perspective on historical events."

Igor Șarov, rector of Moldova State University and one of the first readers of the book, said: "I have known Igor Corman for years and can attest that he pours passion and soul into everything he does. This book is no exception. It's a beautiful accomplishment that deserved to be published and widely read and studied."

"This two-volume work is dedicated to my family, who supported me throughout this journey, to Moldovan diplomats, and to all friends of the Republic of Moldova in Germany," noted Igor Corman.