Karl Ernst Papf, or Ernesto Papf was a German-born Brazilian photographer, painter and designer.
Background
Finding himself in a cultured city and not wishing to follow the family profession, he found the means to enroll at the Dresden Academy of Fine Arts where, in 1852, he saw his first success with a painting dedicated to his memories of his father.
Career
He came from a family of miners that originated in Freiberg. He initially worked in Recife, creating "fotopinturas" (photographs retouched to look like oil paintings). Then, when Henschel opened more branches in 1872, Papf moved to Salvador and remained there until 1877 when he once again moved, to Rio de Janeiro, seeking greater opportunities.
In addition to his commercial work, he painted still-lifes and landscapes.
The Imperial Family became one of his regular clients. In 1897, he began to participate in the "Exposição Geral de Belas Artes".
As the rapidly expanding coffee industry created a spurt of growth in São Paulo Paulo, Papf once again followed the path of opportunity, buying a farm (called Palmeiras Ranch) in the vicinity and opening a new studio there in 1899.
Membership
The following year, he was commissioned to paint members of the Imperial Family.