Tag Archives: 1920s

December 10, 2015

Flat, Slick and Shiny

By C.E. Ryan
portrait-slicked-back-23

Young man with slicked back hair. 1923, Hostetler studio. Davenport, Iowa. Private Collection.

A profile portrait taken in 1923. It came in a nice folder frame with the photographer info, and still has the protective sheet.

If you ever wondered why great grandma’s armchairs always had lace doilies on the top of the backs, now you know the habit was born out of wanting to protect her precious furniture from her household’s intentionally greasy heads!

Photographer: Hostetler. Est. Since 1888. 212 West 3rd St. Davenport. Iowa.

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December 6, 2015

The 1920s boy with the rouged lips

By C.E. Ryan
RPPC. Private Collection.

A 1920s little boy with the rouged lips. RPPC. Private Collection.

“When I grow up, I want to be Rudolph Valentino!” Look at this mini gentleman…What a  cute close-up portrait of this boy, and with the rouged lips. Though I knew the practice was common for mass marketed postcards, mostly of romance couples and actors, this is the first time I see this done to a child on a regular portrait picture. Maybe he did work as a postcard model.

RPPC: AZO 1918-1930

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December 1, 2015

Amour, amour!

By C.E. Ryan
postcard-amour-amour

Amour, amour! Noyer #2759. Private Collection.

LOVE, LOVE!

The kiss which brings together
Our souls is the sublime
Union – My lips quiver
Of a sweet feeling

 

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November 13, 2015

Are you a doll too?

By C.E. Ryan
PC Paris #1925. Postcard. Private Collection.

PC Paris #1925. Postcard. Private Collection.

What an interesting French romance postcard! The man is the same as on these two postcards, but I’m not sure about the woman. Between them is a porcelain doll she is using to touch the man’s neck. The doll itself is giving her a side glance!

postcard-pc-paris-doll-detail

This is the first time I see a doll prop on these, and I absolutely love how the photographer used it! It’s a bit surreal, almost as if the doll is alive too.

~*~

(My thoughts today are with my family and friends in Paris and France. These are uncertain times, and my heart breaks for my country.)

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November 5, 2015

Sigh in Sepia

By C.E. Ryan
Sepia Embrace. PC Paris. Postcard. Private Collection.

Sepia Embrace. PC Paris. Postcard. Private Collection.

Another beautiful French postcard. Here the woman is leaning above her admirer with drama. To me her gesture reminds me so much of the stereotypical way women acted in silent films.

I have what I think may be the same couple on another. He’s wearing the same shirt too.

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