Isidore Jacques Eggermont


Isidore Jacques Eggermont was a Belgian diplomat, who was also active as a photographer and writer in North Africa and Asia.
In 1874, Eggermont travelled to Egypt and Palestine and in 1876–1877, he travelled around the world.. Possibly during the latter trip, Eggermont visited Ceylon and India. He was a councillor at the legation of Belgium in Japan, winter 1876–1877. He travelled extensively and took notes and photographs that were the basis of his later monographs on Japan.
At the end of 1877, he was a secretary to the King of Belgium at Ghent. In 1885, he was first secretary of the legation of Belgium at Paris. Descendants of the Eggermont family are still in diplomatic service today.
Several of his photographs are held by the Canadian Centre for Architecture in Montreal.
In 1890, he acquired the Leignon castle.

Publications

The 1877 and 1900 books are among the essential contemporary French-language literature about 19th century Japan.