Charly 1 postcard - A black and white photo of a train on a city street

In 1878, Charles Bernhoeft became the owner of Anton Melbroyer's photographic studio, which Melbroyer had opened in Luxembourg's capital in 1866. In 1891 he became "court photographer" and until 1910 he was the most famous portrait photographer in Luxembourg. In addition to portraits, he also practiced landscape photography, selling postcards and albums of his work. Another niche of his activity was photographic work commissioned by companies. In collaboration with Jean-Nicolas Moes, Bernhoft published the first illustrated weekly with photographs of Luxembourg (Das Luxemburger Land in Wort und Bild) (1895), which ceased publication after nine months. Bernhoft invented a device for indoor photography using indirect magnesium flash. Bernhoft presented the patented device at international exhibitions and managed to sell it to several hundred professional photographers in Europe. Bernhoft retired in 1910 and died in 1933 in Beggen, Grand Duchy of Luxembourg.