Group portraits from the first century of photography
This unusual image shows a group of men engaging in the labor-intensive process of breaking rocks into pieces and sorting them by size for use in road construction. A small smokestack in the background indicates that a steam engine powered the conveyor which carried pieces of rock up to a sorting sieve.
This impromptu group portrait was likely taken at a medical facility not far from the front lines during the First World War. The man seated next to the colonel is wearing a tailored suit with a Red Cross pin on the lapel, suggesting he may be a visitor rather than a patient.
To continue the cooking theme of the previous post, this postcard from Germany is an unusual portrait of a young cook in her kitchen uniform. Taken in a studio against a rustic painted backdrop, her spotless white clothes glow under careful studio lighting. Like CDVs in the nineteenth century, individual postcard portraits were often exchanged... Continue Reading →
This photo postcard likely originated in northern Europe. The presence of a nun at the back of the room and a crucifix on the wall suggest the class may have been offered by a convent or other Catholic organization. The back provides no information.
This 1909 school portrait came from the same small Maine album that "Two Good Friends" did in the previous post. Both titles are written in the album. Click on the images below to enlarge them.
France or Belgium, no additional information.
This snapshot was taken in the town of Bolton in the north of England. The back has the following note: "Remodelling Bolton East Junction, Sun. Mar. 22/03 11:15 am." The month is hard to read, but March 22, 1903, was a Sunday, as were Feb. 22 and Nov. 22. Only one man is looking in... Continue Reading →
