Nicola Perscheid: Pioneer of Artistic Portraiture and the Soft Focus Lens Nicola Perscheid (3 December 1864 – 12 May 1930) occupies a unique position in the annals of early 20th-century German photography, revered primarily for his artistic portraits—works distinguished by an ethereal luminescence achieved through groundbreaking techniques. Born in Moselweiß near Koblenz, he pursued a lifelong vocation for visual storytelling, traversing Europe – Saarbrücken, Trier, Colmar, Nice, Vienna and Budapest – demonstrating remarkable adaptability and unwavering devotion to his craft. These formative…