Hála József - Romsics Imre (szerk.): A kalocsai polihisztor. Tóth Mike emlékkönyv. Tanulmányok - Kalocsai múzeumi értekezések 11. (Kalocsa, 2009)
Romsics Imre: Tóth Mike, a fényképész
Romsics Imre IMRE ROMSICS Mike Tóth, the photographer Mike Tóth published his book ‘The secrets of Photography. For Amateurs and Professional Gentlemen’ at Szatmár in 1875, producing the first professional description of th subject in Hungarian. Besides describing the technology in detail, he pointed out the potential in the scientific use of photography and made this his own priority. When recommending the use of acid-free glues, he was in fact a whole century ahead of his time compared to Hungarian museology. Mike Tóth had begun to take photographs from the second half of the 1850’s onwards and illustrated his writings with photographs of his own. Research identified 556 photos by Mike Tóth, the majority of which had been published in the periodicals Hírnök [Herald...] and Mary’s Garden. Most pictures document shrines to Mary and to the Heart of Jesus. When composing these photos he put a great emphasis on including the natural environment. He considered photographs as an important source of knowledge. By publishing these pictures he hoped to serve didactic and educational purposes and if we go even deeper it is not hard to identify a wider cultural-political intention to mobilise a wider range of people. Mike Tóth visited various parts of the country on a regular basis, every summer holiday, taking pictures of newly built shrines. He encouraged readers of the periodicals to take and to send in photographs and also promoted photography among adults as well as students of the grammar school. Tóth furbished a photo lab in the Kalocsa Grammar Shool in 1863-64 where he used to develop his pictures. His photographs are visually tight and well-composed, with a striving to present the figures complete. His landscapes and street views clearly show that he placed an emphasis on presenting the characteristics of the environment. When photographing groups, he would arrange the participants, adjust their posture to the topic and was keen to capture their gestures. 52
