The Industrial Revolution transformed Berlin during the 19th century; the city’s economy and population expanded dramatically, and it became the main railway hub and economic center of Germany. Additional suburbs soon developed and increased the area and population of Berlin. In 1861, neighboring suburbs including Wedding, Moabit and several others were incorporated into Berlin. InContinue reading “40 Incredibly Colorized Photos of Berlin in the Late 19th and Early 20th Centuries”
Tag Archives: 1800s
The “Golden Age” of Childhood: A Gallery of 45 Amazing Daguerreotypes of Siblings From the Mid-19th Century
Daguerreotypes were the first commercially viable photographic process. Developed by French chemist Louis Daguerre in 1839, the technique quickly made its way to the US in the 1840s, the beginning of what some historians characterize as the “golden age” of childhood. To make the image, a daguerreotypist polished a sheet of silver-plated copper to aContinue reading “The “Golden Age” of Childhood: A Gallery of 45 Amazing Daguerreotypes of Siblings From the Mid-19th Century”
40 Wonderful Portrait Photos of Women Posing With Their Books From the Mid-19th Century
Women formed a large and increasing part of the new novel-reading public. The traditional discrepancy between male and female literacy rates was narrowed, and finally eliminated by the end of the 19th century. The gap had always been the widest at the lowest end of the social scale. Perhaps more women than we realize couldContinue reading “40 Wonderful Portrait Photos of Women Posing With Their Books From the Mid-19th Century”
Victorian Readers: 40 Vintage Portraits of People Posing With Their Books From 19th Century
Victorians were great readers of the novel, and the number of novels available for them to read increased enormously during Victoria’s reign. The activity of reading benefited hugely from wider schooling and increased literacy rates, from the cheapening costs of publication, from improved distribution that resulted from better transportation, and, towards the end of theContinue reading “Victorian Readers: 40 Vintage Portraits of People Posing With Their Books From 19th Century”
Amazing Portrait Photos of African-American Women in the 19th Century
Throughout the early nineteenth century, African Americans formed a substantial minority of inhabitants of the United States; 15 to 18 percent of the total population were free or enslaved black people. In 1800, there were about one million black people living in the country; by 1850, that number had grown to about 3.6 million. WhiteContinue reading “Amazing Portrait Photos of African-American Women in the 19th Century”
Abolitionist Button, ca. 1850s
Abolitionist Button is an early photography daguerreotype and gold photographic print created from between the 1840s to the 1850s. It lives at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. The image is in the public domain, and tagged jewelry and political work. This miniature daguerreotype shows two hands resting on a book. The photographContinue reading “Abolitionist Button, ca. 1850s”
30 Elegant Portraits of Victorian Beauties in Tight Corsets
The corset has been an indispensable supportive undergarment for women, in Europe for several centuries, evolving as fashion trends have changed and being known, depending on era and geography, as a pair of bodies, stays and corsets. The appearance of the garment represented a change from people wearing clothes to fit their bodies to changingContinue reading “30 Elegant Portraits of Victorian Beauties in Tight Corsets”
Curious Pair of Shoes Called “Soles” Ardèche From the Late 19th Century
This footwear, called “Soles”, made in the Ardèche region of France in the 19th century. The soles are heavy duty shoes whose soles are studded with sharp blades. They were in wood for the sole, leather for the portion covering the foot and metal for the dents. The soles were used to peel the chestnuts,Continue reading “Curious Pair of Shoes Called “Soles” Ardèche From the Late 19th Century”
Self Portrait as a Drowned Man: The First Hoax Photograph Ever Shot in 1840
The first hoax photograph was taken in 1840 by Hippolyte Bayard. Both Bayard and Louis Daguerre fought to claim the title “Father of Photography.” Bayard had supposedly developed his photography process before Daguerre introduced the daguerreotype. However, the announcement of the invention was held off, and Daguerre claimed the moment. In a rebellious move, BayardContinue reading “Self Portrait as a Drowned Man: The First Hoax Photograph Ever Shot in 1840”
35 Amazing Photos Showing Fashion Styles of Victorian Girls
For many centuries the girl’s costumes were largely influenced by clothes worn by their mothers. Such copying of style continued until the early years of the 18th century. Silk was the popular material used by the rich class of the society mainly to show off their wealth. If the girl was from a poor family,Continue reading “35 Amazing Photos Showing Fashion Styles of Victorian Girls”
