#19th century photographs

[curlysgirl0202]

Ever Wonder Why People Didn't Smile in Old West Photos?

"Show me those pearly white teeth, now!" We hear this expression in the present time, but back in the Old West, photographers would not be using this term as most people did not have the same dental hygiene practices we do now. Although dental floss was around since 1815 when it was introduced by American dentist, Levi Spear Parmly, it was not always readily available or simply not a priority. Many establishments had a community toothbrush and several people would use the same brush without sterilization, only adding to worse dental issues. Cavities were not filled; the tooth was pulled. So one of the reasons people may not have smiled is due to poor dental hygiene.

The idea that poor dental practices and bad teeth as a reason for not smiling in photos may not have been completely true. Most people during this time period flashed a smile with broken teeth or major gaps so looking at their teeth would not be a shock to anyone as they saw this everyday.

2. FREEZE! Cameras back in the Old West had different shutter speeds and people had to remain still so the photograph would not turn out blurry. People had to sit for several minutes for the flash! So people did not smile because they could not hold a smile for that long.

In 1845, cameras were equipped with more advanced technology and the shutter speed was reduced from several minutes to just one minute, allowing people to smile in photos as they did not have to stay frozen due to exposure, shutter speed and blurriness. So, people did have the opportunity to smile, so why keep the frown?

3. The most likely explanation for people not smiling in Old West photos is that these people felt smiling in pictures made them look foolish, silly or uneducated. Smiling in photographs did not become standard until around 1920 to 1930.

One of the first photographs taken of a woman smiling!

In conclusion, the most common reason people did not flash smiles at the camera lens because they felt foolish or that they would come across as socially inept individuals.

What a difference shutter speeds, lenses, technology and social norms make!

[sayxit]

Spooky Lace

[womenshistory]

Group of young women reading in library of normal school, Washington, D.C., Frances Benjamin Johnston, 1899.

[die-rosastrasse]

Exhibition on 19th century art in my town

Gdańsk, 22 XI 2023

[lionofchaeronea]

Photographic half-length portrait of a Native American (Dakota) man named Sun Flower, taken by a photographer for Heyn Photo in 1899. Now in the Prints and Photographs Division, Library of Congress.

[fashionsfromhistory]

Dress Owned by Lydia Williams Lyman (Mrs. Robert Treat Paine)

Emile Pingat (Paris, France)

1885-1890

Museum of Fine Arts, Boston (Accession Number: 56.849b)

[thinkingofbluethunder]

Morning winter sun in a cottage in Sweden.

[daguerreotyping]

Absolutely stunning post-mortem daguerreotype of a young man with killer cheekbones and haunting eyes, c. 1850

[vintage-russia]

Sacrificial feast in the Sudnozero/Venehjärvi village,Kemskiy uyezd of Arkhangelsk governorate (1894)

Photo by Konrad Inha (1865-1930)

[chic-a-gigot]

Mademoiselle Lutreille Lucie, 14 8bre 1895 [photographie de presse]. Zulimo Chiesi (1849-1932), Photographe. Bibliothèque nationale de France

[dimity-lawn]

1896

Right: “Oh”, William H. Walker.

Leit: Cycling Suit, Trouville. MET Accession Number: 2009.300.547a, b

Center and Right: Court Presentation Ensemble, probably American, and a photograph of Emily Warren Roebling wearing it. MET Accession Number: 2009.300.941a-e

Left: Bridesmaid Dress, A. F. Jammes. MET Accession Number: C.1.41.14.2

Center and Right: Wedding Dress, House of Worth, and sleeve detail. MET Accession Number: C.1.41.14.1 Death’s Head Buttons!!!

[escapismsworld]

Tsar Nicholas II playing around with the princes of Greece and Denmark

1899

[divinemorcega]

all i want

it's a life in maroon shade's

and poetry for dinner

[edwardian-girl-next-door]

Mrs. James Brown Potter, 1883

Taken by Jose Maria Mora, 707 Broadway, NYC

via david shields on pinterest

[labyrinthofstreams]

"Group of young women performing atmospheric pressure experiments while studying science in school, Washington, D.C."

Photographed by Frances Benjamin Johnston, 1899.

[jeannepompadour]

Sofiya Nikolaevna Chertkova, 1863