July 7, 2015

The 1870s Bostonian boy with the terrific eyes

By C.E. Ryan
CDV. Private collection.

1870s CDV of boy with intense stare. Private collection.

Once in a while I come across a special portrait that makes me go “wow”, then “hm…this looks like an old soul”. This picture captured the boy with the intense stare of somebody much beyond his years.

cdv-boy-beautiful-eyes-back

The card has round corners not shown here.

He was well dressed too, with a white ribbon tied like a bowtie. By the lapels and style of card I estimate this was taken around 1870 or in the early years of the decade at most. The front bottom was clipped to fit in an album.

Photographer: Warren’s Portraits. 465 Washington St. Boston. Massachusetts.

Creative Commons License

4 Comments   |  tags: , , , , , , | posted in Boys, CDVs

July 7, 2015

The late 1940s smiling photographer in fedora

By C.E. Ryan
Snapshot. Private Collection.

2″ 1/2 x 3″ 1/5 snapshot of 1940s man in fedora with camera. Private Collection.

Fedora, check, smile, check, camera, check. A nice candid taken at a low angle in the sun. I think this was taken in the late 40s or early 50s. The camera he’s holding looks like a variant of the Kodak Tourist I or II which first came out in the late 40s. I’m pretty sure this is a Kodak by the style of flap to the side. Agfas were similar but the flap opened from the bottom. Those would set you back about $750 in today’s money.

This man’s well dressed yet casual with the polo collar over the coat lapels.

9 Comments   |  tags: , , , | posted in Gentlemen, Others

July 7, 2015

Father and daughter

By C.E. Ryan
1/6th tintype. Private Collection.

1/6th tintype. Private Collection.

What a sweet portrait! The baby daughter looks so much like her father; they have the same look in their eyes. She’s leaning into him too, safe in his arms. A beautiful picture that speaks of their special bond.

4 Comments   |  tags: , , , | posted in Groups, Tintypes

July 6, 2015

The WWII German pilot with the model plane

By C.E. Ryan
WWII German pilot. Snapshot. Private Collection.

WWII German pilot. Snapshot. Private Collection.

Ah, the enemy…the one we loathe.

This picture spoke to me. This German pilot is leaning to the side so the model plane is in the shot. The picture gives me the feeling that flying was a dream of his from childhood, and it most likely was. Too bad this one grew up to become a pilot under Hitler’s rule. Sad, sad, sad. This pilot fought for the wrong side and paid the price whether he survived or not.

I collect these pictures because they remind me of the universal tragedy of war. The enemy had a face and family too and a life, and dreams, and not all of them were evil, they followed orders like every soldier has to do.

3 Comments   |  tags: , , , | posted in Bad Boys, Military, Others

July 6, 2015

Coming of Age II

By C.E. Ryan
Austrian boy with very high collar & cigarette. CDV. Personal Collection.

Austrian boy with very high collar & cigarette. CDV. Personal Collection.

A thick late period CDV of a dapper Austrian boy. He’s wearing a high collar and white tie that together elongate his silhouette. His jacket’s wrinkled but his gentlemanly appearance is complete with a straw boater hat, buttonhole jewelry chain and a cane tucked on his arm.

The backdrop is plain and looks like a painted room corner.

This card reminds me of the German one.

Photographer: Atelier Tegeffhoff. Inh. F. Jelinek. Vienna. Austo-Hungarian Empire.

2 Comments   |  tags: , , , , , , , , | posted in CDVs, Teens