Joseph Ernest Mock (French, 1867-1944) Portrait of a Woman Organist, 1920s Gum dichromate print 13-1/2 x 10-1/2 inches (34.3 x 26.7 cm) (image/sheet) Signed in ink, mount recto. Joseph Ernest Mock (1867-1944) was born to Carl and Mary Anna (née Bader) Mock on November 19, 1867. Although he was born in Fessenheim, a village located in the Alsace region of France, the area was under German control for most of his childhood. Mock started his education in public school before attending the St. Joseph's Institute at Matzenheim, where he studied music and art. In 1884, at the age of 16, Mock immigrated to the United States. Upon arriving in the U.S., Mock began working with Robert Furman, a prominent photographer in the Rochester area. By 1887 he opened his own studio that permanently moved to the Sibley block of Rochester in 1904. Mock earned a reputation as a talented photographer and portrait painter and received several awards for his creations. He was a member of the Photographers Association of America, the local Photographers' Association, and the Professional Photographers Society of New York for which he served as president in 1915, 1921, and 1922. Mock was also involved in the Rochester community. He was a member of the Rochester Chamber of Commerce, belonged to the Knights of Columbus, and played as the organist at St. Francis Xavier's Roman Catholic Church for many years. On August 21, 1890, Mock married Rosa Armbruster with whom he had three daughters. He died on September 6, 1944. Mock apparently experimented with many photography processes, including silver and platinum prints, Kodachrome and other early color processes and alternative photographic processes, such as gum printing. HID03101062020 © 2020 Heritage Auctions | All Rights Reserved