Mmm.. In 1910, Nettie was 37 and her friend, Mate Parmley would have been about 30 years old. I see what look like wedding rings on a lot of them. Its very hard to tell how old they are.
Netties two oldest daughters, Mabel and Gladys would have been 13 and 9 years old so I don't think they are in this picture.
I am trying to imagine what it meant to face a camera in a time where a photographic session was really a unique event. "What will the camera see of me?" so many of the faces seem to ask...a moment of self introspection...and certainly not a silly smile is captured. But I too have a longing to see serene, deep smiles...but again, maybe even that communication jumped the boundaries for the day.
I've often said that the Kodak Brownie camera gave women a freedom that they hadn't known. It's nice to see them smiling in this posed shot because so often they aren't. Once they had the ability to take snapshots of each other everything changed. They got to be themselves and show the joy in their lives without feeling the restrains of always being proper.
This is a fabulous photo. Don't you love the painted fence? I'm grateful they at least put a date. Any dated photograph can help date other photographs based on clothing, etc. Now I have a good idea about a photo I have of my grandfather and a lady who's not my grandmother! And about the hair -- the photo of the lady who is not-my-grandmother has very large hair and an equally large hat. Those hats had to be way bigger than their heads to fit over their hair!
I wonder what kind of group they are.
ReplyDeleteMmm.. In 1910, Nettie was 37 and her friend, Mate Parmley would have been about 30 years old. I see what look like wedding rings on a lot of them. Its very hard to tell how old they are.
ReplyDeleteNetties two oldest daughters, Mabel and Gladys would have been 13 and 9 years old so I don't think they are in this picture.
I am trying to imagine what it meant to face a camera in a time where a photographic session was really a unique event. "What will the camera see of me?" so many of the faces seem to ask...a moment of self introspection...and certainly not a silly smile is captured. But I too have a longing to see serene, deep smiles...but again, maybe even that communication jumped the boundaries for the day.
ReplyDeleteI do love this picture. And the smiles are nice. The event of the picture taking itself must have been a reason for excitement.
ReplyDeleteI've often said that the Kodak Brownie camera gave women a freedom that they hadn't known. It's nice to see them smiling in this posed shot because so often they aren't. Once they had the ability to take snapshots of each other everything changed. They got to be themselves and show the joy in their lives without feeling the restrains of always being proper.
ReplyDeleteHow on Earth did they get their hair so poofy?!
ReplyDeleteMaybelline, have you heard of "rats?" They are a sort of roll of fabric that they rolled their hair around to get that poofy look.
ReplyDeleteThis is a fabulous photo. Don't you love the painted fence? I'm grateful they at least put a date. Any dated photograph can help date other photographs based on clothing, etc. Now I have a good idea about a photo I have of my grandfather and a lady who's not my grandmother! And about the hair -- the photo of the lady who is not-my-grandmother has very large hair and an equally large hat. Those hats had to be way bigger than their heads to fit over their hair!
ReplyDeleteI wonder if they are related?
ReplyDelete