The Jakob Prešern Fonds (1941–1948)

Curator: Katarina Jurjavčič


The Jakob Prešern Fonds was established in 1958, when the amateur photographer, a judge by profession, donated two photographic albums to the then Museum of National Liberation, a total of 404 photographs from World War II.


Despite the dangers of that time, Dr Jakob Prešern (Begunje na Gorenjskem, 9.7.1898–13.2.1975, Begunje na Gorenjskem) systematically photographed the first months of the Italian occupation of Ljubljana – the entry of the enemy army into the city, the military line-up, and the subsequent attempts by the army to successfully conquer the city.

The ruins of the Borovnica railway viaduct, Borovnica, 25 May 1941. Black-and-white negative, 4.5 × 6 cm, inv. no.: P16.
The ruins of the Borovnica railway viaduct, Borovnica, 25 May 1941. Black-and-white negative, 4.5 × 6 cm, inv. no.: P16.
A queue in front of the Civil Service Supplier’s Cooperative, people queuing to buy food, Ljubljana, 5 July 1941. Black-and-white negative, 6 × 8 cm, inv. no.: P103.
A queue in front of the Civil Service Supplier’s Cooperative, people queuing to buy food, Ljubljana, 5 July 1941. Black-and-white negative, 6 × 8 cm, inv. no.: P103.
The burnt church of St. Peter overlooking Begunje na Gorenjskem, Poljče, June 1945. Black-and-white negative, 10 × 14.5 cm, inv. no.: P378.
The burnt church of St. Peter overlooking Begunje na Gorenjskem, Poljče, June 1945. Black-and-white negative, 10 × 14.5 cm, inv. no.: P378.