Portraits from the first 100 years of photography
The back of this cabinet card is blank, so I can't say for sure that the sitters are father and daughter, but it's a safe bet. At first I thought he might be wearing a clerical collar, but they always clasp in the back, rather than the front. His suit is simple but well-tailored. Her... Continue Reading →
On November 18, 1918, Latvia declared independence from the new Soviet government in Russia. In November of this year, Latvians celebrated the centennial of that event. Neighboring Lithuania and Estonia will be celebrating the centennial of their own independence in February 2019. Finland's centennial celebration took place on December 6, 2017. The photo above was... Continue Reading →
This multi-generational portrait was made at Atelier Fritz Tschira in the scenic town of Osterode am Harz. Osterode is at the edge of the Harz mountains, which are the highest in northern Germany. The postcard isn't dated, but my guess would be late 1920s. If anyone has a different guess, based on clothing or hairstyles... Continue Reading →
Labor to keep alive in your breast that little spark of celestial fire called conscience. --George Washington On February 21, 1906, an unknown photographer created this time capsule of the inside of a fifth-grade classroom. The photo is mounted on a card, on the back of which is a note: "Leighton's First School, Bellefontaine, O." ... Continue Reading →
This postcard has no message or information on the back, but it came from a dealer in Pennsylvania who specializes in photographs from Imperial Russia (pre-1917). The empire of the Tsars was truly vast, encompassing areas of northeastern Europe and Central Asia which today are made up of independent nations. It's impossible to say exactly... Continue Reading →
I've been playing tennis since I was twelve, so I always enjoy seeing rackets in portraits, even when they're just props. This photobooth portrait is wonderful. I love the combination of a child's racket with palm trees and pyramids. Re-blogged from Photobooth Journal:
I'm guessing about the relationships between the sitters in the previous post and this one. Do you think the baby in the portrait above looks like the one below? I think this may be the same child, a little older: *** *** A year ago today, I published my first blog post. To everyone who... Continue Reading →
A few months ago a photo dealer in Arkansas listed the contents of a small 19th century album on eBay. The original owners of the album weren't identified, but some of the portraits had the names and addresses of photographers printed on them. The studios were located in Mobile and Talladega, Alabama. Some of the... Continue Reading →
Exactly 91 years ago today, a group of marvelous children appeared in Kladno, Czechoslovakia. Witnesses told of fairies, a knight, a princess, and even a jester! A few locals managed to get their picture taken with the fantastic troupe. Then the magical visitors went back to the world they had come from, and the day... Continue Reading →
When I start researching a foreign photographer, I never expect to find much. I can usually find a few references online, and sometimes studio addresses or dates of operation, but that's generally it. On the other hand, some studios are well documented in their own countries, and the E. Bieber studio in Hamburg is one... Continue Reading →
A note on the back of this studio portrait says either "Harold Winnie" or "Harold & Winnie." While Winnie could be a last name, it's more likely the first name of the girl on the left, who must be Harold's sister. The studio is identified on the mat just below the image: Gordon & Blees. ... Continue Reading →
If you've been following this blog for a while, you may remember a post from last October titled School dog and her charges (UK). I had bought that CDV because the group portrait included a dog posing charmingly with students. Then, after scanning it, I had noticed that one of the girls was of mixed-race... Continue Reading →
Tokens of Companionship 
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