Family from Chicago
Click here to view it larger.
What it is:
Photo (approx. 4 x 5.5 inches) mounted to a cardboard frame/backing (6 x 9 inches; I have cropped most of the distractingly stained backing from this scan).
What I know about it:
Photographer is H. Koeppelmann of Chicago, Illinois. Otherwise undated and unidentified.
Comments:
This one is obviously very dirty and stained, but I like it enough that I’m posting it anyway. First of all, I’m impressed with the backdrop. It’s well enough done that I initially thought the flowering bush behind the man was three-dimensional, though I now think it’s part of the painting. And then there’s the people, whom I’m assuming to be father, mother, and child (a son, I’m guessing, though this is another one where the gender of the child is tricky to modern eyes). The woman looks very pleased, and very much in charge. The dolled-up child looks like he’s content to go along for the ride. And the father looks like he doesn’t know what hit him. I was going to say his suit looks ill-fitting, but since his wife’s cooking will probably help fill him out, I’ll say the suit looks optimistic.
Pics of Then 
This is weird, but when I clicked on the enlargement of the picture, my immediate impression was that the husband was a young woman dressed as a man. Is it just me?
Funny, that hadn’t occurred to me, but I see what you mean now that you point it out. There is a softness to the features that I had just ascribed to youth. Wouldn’t that be fascinating, our very own Albert Nobbs!
Great image here, Matt! I think it’s just an unfortunate smudge on the photo, but at a glance, it looks like the man’s bowler hat has a big dent in it. Made me smile, as I have an antique bowler hat that has a small dent in right about the same spot. 🙂
Nice image. I always enjoy coming to see what you’ve posted.
Thanks so much, Jenna! I’m glad you’re continuing to enjoy these pictures. Yes, I think that’s just a smudge. At least it’s not as bad as the big smear at the bottom of her dress.
Boy howdy that is some headgear!
Yes, imagine the days when that was normal.
Thanks heavens it’s not!
Yes, indeed.