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When you think of old photos or historical pictures, you naturally think in terms of black and white, but as you can see from these stunning vintage photos from the turn of the 20th century, color pictures have been around for a lot longer than you think.

Before 1907, if you wanted a color photograph, you (well, a professional colorist) basically had to color it using different dyes and pigments. Still, two French brothers called Auguste and Louis Lumière revolutionized all that with a game-changing process that they called the Autochrome Lumière. Using dyed grains of potato starch and light-sensitive emulsion, they could produce color in vintage photography without the need for additional colorization. Despite being difficult to manufacture and somewhat expensive, the process was very popular among amateur photographers. As a result, one of the world's first books of color photography was published using the Autochrome Lumière technique.

The brothers revolutionized the world of color photography until Kodak took things to a whole new level with the invention of Kodachrome film in 1935, a lighter and more convenient alternative that quickly made the Autochrome Lumière obsolete (although its popularity continued in France up until the 1950s). Kodachrome was also eventually overtaken by the rise of digital photography (Kodak stopped manufacturing Kodachrome in 2009), which is now by far the world's most popular way to take pictures. Still, modern advances in photographic technology wouldn't have been possible without the hard work of early pioneers like Auguste and Louis Lumière. Scroll down for a collection of stunning historical photos in color using their groundbreaking technique.

#1

Christina In Red, 1913

Christina In Red, 1913

Mervyn O’Gorman Report

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Nancy E
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6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I know she is wearing a bathing suit . What a difference in mores' today !

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#3

Heinz And Eva On The Hillside, 1925

Heinz And Eva On The Hillside, 1925

Friedrich Paneth Report

#4

Sisters Sitting In A Garden Tying Roses Together, 1911

Sisters Sitting In A Garden Tying Roses Together, 1911

Etheldreda Janet Laing Report

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#5

Moulin Rouge, Paris, 1914

Moulin Rouge, Paris, 1914

Albert Kahn Report

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John L
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6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Its just too bad that those wonderful buildings on left and right are no longer standing. :(

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#7

Musing (Mrs. A. Van Besten), C. 1910

Musing (Mrs. A. Van Besten), C. 1910

Alfonse Van Besten Report

#8

The Eiffel Tower, Paris, 1914

The Eiffel Tower, Paris, 1914

Albert Kahn Report

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Ani Asnever
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6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Wow! This photo is most remarkable for the shot of the old Trocadero palace, seen through the tower's arch! It hasn't been there for 80 years.

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#9

A Girl Holds A Doll Next To Soldiers' Equipment In Reims, France, 1917

A Girl Holds A Doll Next To Soldiers' Equipment In Reims, France, 1917

Fernand Cuville Report

#10

The Grenata Street Army, 1915

The Grenata Street Army, 1915

Léon Gimpel Report

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#11

Among The First Coloured Pictures Ever Taken By Louis Lumière, 1907

Among The First Coloured Pictures Ever Taken By Louis Lumière, 1907

Mo Report

#15

Charlie Chaplin, 1918

Charlie Chaplin, 1918

Charles C. Zoller Report

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#16

Autochrome Of Mark Twain, 1908

Autochrome Of Mark Twain, 1908

Alvin Langdon Coburn Report

#18

Outdoor Market, Paris, 1914

Outdoor Market, Paris, 1914

Albert Kahn Report

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Aunt Messy
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

There are still street markets like this in Paris if you know where to look. They aren't all that hard to find, either. If you see vans parked on the street that have spectacular graffiti all over them, there's a market nearby. The graffiti on the vans gets competitive and some of it is spectacular.

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#20

Two Girls In Oriental Costume, 1908

Two Girls In Oriental Costume, 1908

Etheldreda Janet Laing Report

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AsHaysha Salam
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6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Can people really stop with the appropriation, it's clothing !!! Should we stop eating food from different cultures or watch different

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#21

Van Besten Painting In His Garden, 1912

Van Besten Painting In His Garden, 1912

Alfonse Van Besten Report

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Amy Radie
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Nancy, I guess the object of this series went way over your head. Have a better day.

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#22

Bosnia-Herzegovina, Mostar, 1913

Bosnia-Herzegovina, Mostar, 1913

Albert Kahn Report

#23

Eva And Heinz On The Shore Of Lake Lucerne, Switzerland, C. 1927

Eva And Heinz On The Shore Of Lake Lucerne, Switzerland, C. 1927

Friedrich Adolf Paneth Report

#24

Girl In A Garden With Hollyhocks, 1908

Girl In A Garden With Hollyhocks, 1908

Etheldreda Laing Report

#25

Sweden, Near Gagnef (Mother And Daughter In Traditional Clothes), 1910

Sweden, Near Gagnef (Mother And Daughter In Traditional Clothes), 1910

Albert Kahn Report

#26

Else Reading By The Nile, 1920

Else Reading By The Nile, 1920

Friedrich Adolf Paneth Report

#28

Family Portrait At Roannay, Belgium, 1913

Family Portrait At Roannay, Belgium, 1913

Georges Gilon Report

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Lara B.
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6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

There's always that one family member that can't stand still for photos (girl in the right window) :D. But beautiful picture anyway :)

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#30

An Autochrome Of Two Sisters, 1908

An Autochrome Of Two Sisters, 1908

Etheldreda Laing Report

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#31

Apan (Young Samurai), 1912

Apan (Young Samurai), 1912

Albert Kahn Report

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B.r. Hutchinson
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Oh the changes he would have seen...to go from a society like the outfit he has on represents, to WW2 where he might have been an officer in his 40s, to the resurgence of Japan in the 70s (if he lived).

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#33

Japan, Kyoto, 1912

Japan, Kyoto, 1912

Albert Kahn Report

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Nikki Scott
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The girl in the middle... for a split second I thought her obi belt was see through

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#34

Bosnia-Herzegovina, Sarajevo, 1912

Bosnia-Herzegovina, Sarajevo, 1912

Albert Kahn Report

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John L
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I just want to reach out, grab one, and sink my teeth into the fresh bread while its still warm. :O

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#35

Mother Of Seven Making Fringes For Knitted Shawls, Galway, Ireland, 29 May 1913

Mother Of Seven Making Fringes For Knitted Shawls, Galway, Ireland, 29 May 1913

Albert Kahn Report

#36

Louis Lumière's Daughter And Her Dolls, 1913

Louis Lumière's Daughter And Her Dolls, 1913

Mo Report

#38

Porte Saint Denis, Paris, 1914

Porte Saint Denis, Paris, 1914

Albert Kahn Report

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Shawn Trudeau
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

If you go to Google Maps and find the site, most if not all of the buildings are the same even the older looking house through the arch.

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#39

Joan In Red Riding Hood Cape With Basket, 1907

Joan In Red Riding Hood Cape With Basket, 1907

John Cimon Warburg Report

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#41

Girl With A Parasol Sitting On A Bench, 1908

Girl With A Parasol Sitting On A Bench, 1908

Etheldreda Laing Report

#42

Giant Oranges,paris, 1914

Giant Oranges,paris, 1914

Albert Kahn Report

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M O'Connell
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Very interesting. I thought they only did weird inflatable stuff recently!

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#43

Egypt, Giza, 1913

Egypt, Giza, 1913

Albert Kahn Report

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Jose Baeyens
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

They were right : the old egyptians did remodel the head to a pharaoh's head and it was probably a lions head first. Compare the erosion of the body with that of the head.

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#45

An Autochrome Of Etheldreda Janet Laing Daughter In A Garden, Holding A Brightly Coloured Bunch Of Pink Flowers, 1908

An Autochrome Of Etheldreda Janet Laing Daughter In A Garden, Holding A Brightly Coloured Bunch Of Pink Flowers, 1908

Etheldreda Janet Laing Report

#47

Traditional Irish Knitwear, An Spidéal, Galway, Ireland 1 May 1913 (Left), 14 Year Old Girl From The Claddagh Wearing Traditional Claddagh Dress. Galway, Ireland, 26th May 1913 (Right)

Traditional Irish Knitwear, An Spidéal, Galway, Ireland 1 May 1913 (Left), 14 Year Old Girl From The Claddagh Wearing Traditional Claddagh Dress. Galway, Ireland, 26th May 1913 (Right)

Albert Kahn Report

#48

Lunch Of A French Soldier In Front Of A Damaged Library, 1st April 1917

Lunch Of A French Soldier In Front Of A Damaged Library, 1st April 1917

Paul Castelnau Report

#49

Metro, Paris, 1914

Metro, Paris, 1914

Albert Kahn Report

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Grant O'Neil
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Seems like maybe this photo might be later than 1914. My understanding is that the Adrian helmet was not introduced until 1915 (at least two of the soldiers in this photo seem to be wearing the helmets) and the all horizon blue colour seen here was not introduced until late 1914 (at the outbreak of the war French poilus were wearing red trousers, naturally this made them far too easy to see and contributed to heavier casualties)

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#50

Margate Beach, Blue Girl , 1915

Margate Beach, Blue Girl , 1915

John Cimon Warburg Report

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Ana T.
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6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

i bet those people if the can travel to today present they will be surprise to see that beach full of people in bikinis and shorthorns lol " oh my god , they are almost naked"

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#51

The Family At The Lake, 1925

The Family At The Lake, 1925

Friedrich Adolf Paneth Report

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Izolda Bronstein
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Hey, isn't this again our Eva and Heinz on vocation in the Alps? Not just some nameless "a family" ))

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#55

St. Mark's Cathedral, Venice, 1925

St. Mark's Cathedral, Venice, 1925

Friedrich Adolf Paneth Report

#60

Autochrome Of A Young Girl, 1910

Autochrome Of A Young Girl, 1910

Etheldreda Laing Report

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#61

Moulin Rouge, Paris, 1914

Moulin Rouge, Paris, 1914

Albert Kahn Report

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Curd Vesters
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

strange how this one is totally different from the other one from the Moulin Rouge from 1914... Look at the building left 19141578_1...8b9208.jpg 19141578_10210950623573852_1476960817_n-59402d68b9208.jpg

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#62

Flower Street Vendor, Paris, 1914

Flower Street Vendor, Paris, 1914

Albert Kahn Report

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Kjorn
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Zig-Zag le meilleur papier cigarettes (zig-zag the best cigarette paper) : when you need to roll yours

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#63

Peggy In The Garden, 1909

Peggy In The Garden, 1909

John Cimon Warburg Report

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Agnes Jekyll
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

So beautiful. This reminds me of that beautiful Swedish painting of children with lanterns--the name of which escapes me (help anyone?)

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#64

The Younger Girl Stands Beside Her Sister Holding A Pink Parasol. The Older Girl Rests Her Bonnet On Her Lap, 1908

The Younger Girl Stands Beside Her Sister Holding A Pink Parasol. The Older Girl Rests Her Bonnet On Her Lap, 1908

Etheldreda Laing Report

#66

Staithes Harbor, 1915

Staithes Harbor, 1915

John Cimon Warburg Report

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John L
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is the most unique harbor in all of England. I wish I could be there now. :(

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#67

Two Fishermen And A Boy, An Spidéal, Galway, Ireland, 31 May 1913

Two Fishermen And A Boy, An Spidéal, Galway, Ireland, 31 May 1913

Albert Kahn Report

#68

At The Entrance To The Pyramid Of Menkare, 1913

At The Entrance To The Pyramid Of Menkare, 1913

Friedrich Adolf Paneth Report

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Evelyn Morgan
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It looks like it could be a scene from an Agatha Christie mystery in the middle east.

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#69

A Rusty Buoy, 1908

A Rusty Buoy, 1908

John Cimon Warburg Report

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#71

One Legged Man, Paris, 1914

One Legged Man, Paris, 1914

Albert Kahn Report

#72

Lumiere Brothers. The Game Of Billiards, 1907

Lumiere Brothers. The Game Of Billiards, 1907

Mo Report

#74

Shepherd’s Boy, C. 1913

Shepherd’s Boy, C. 1913

Alfonse Van Besten Report

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Aaaa Bbbb
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6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Reminds me of the cute little boy who likes to wear dresses from a recent Bored Panda post.

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#75

The Kiosk Of Philae, 1913

The Kiosk Of Philae, 1913

Friedrich Adolf Paneth Report

#76

Oranges In Uhlený Trh (“coal Market Square”), Prague, 1910

Oranges In Uhlený Trh (“coal Market Square”), Prague, 1910

Karel Šmirous Report

#77

Eva Poses After A Successful Hunt In Scotland, C. 1920

Eva Poses After A Successful Hunt In Scotland, C. 1920

Report

#78

Senegalese Soldiers Serving In The French Army As Infantrymen Are Resting In A Room With Guns And Equipment Next To Them, 16th June 1917

Senegalese Soldiers Serving In The French Army As Infantrymen Are Resting In A Room With Guns And Equipment Next To Them, 16th June 1917

Paul Castelnau Report

#79

Man With Book Sitting In Chair, 1915

Man With Book Sitting In Chair, 1915

George Eastman Museum Report

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Rachel Brekhus
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

"I am holding this book so that everyone will think I know exactly what I am talking about. I am really just sort of nervous while I wait for this wedding, funeral, or other boutonniere-requiring occasion to begin."

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#81

Eiffel Tower River View, Paris, 1914

Eiffel Tower River View, Paris, 1914

Albert Kahn Report

#83

Cafe La Tasse, Paris, 1914

Cafe La Tasse, Paris, 1914

Albert Kahn Report

#84

Autochrome Of A French Military Cemetery, 1916

Autochrome Of A French Military Cemetery, 1916

Jules Gervais-Courtellemont Report

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xanbex
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Commenting on all this......P.D. Ouspensky said ......" The history of man is the history of crime ".......still true, still killing.

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#86

The Temple Of Dor El-Medine, 1913

The Temple Of Dor El-Medine, 1913

Friedrich Paneth Report

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#88

Drunk Man Sleeping On City Street, Paris, 1914

Drunk Man Sleeping On City Street, Paris, 1914

Albert Kahn Report

#90

Mongolia, Ulaanbaatar (Prisoner), 1913

Mongolia, Ulaanbaatar (Prisoner), 1913

Albert Kahn Report

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#91

Peggy Reading, 1909

Peggy Reading, 1909

John Cimon Warburg Report

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brandee Schmidt
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Omg I have that book at home! It's a Mother Goose fairy tale book!! ❤❤❤

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#94

Lady And Fruit Dish, 1920

Lady And Fruit Dish, 1920

Paul Sano Report

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Stina Kolling
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

She's probably sitting there wondering why in the world the photographer insisted on posing her with all this fruit in the backyard.

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#95

Autochrome Photo By Cdt Tournassoud, 1910

Autochrome Photo By Cdt Tournassoud, 1910

Mo Report

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Max Lindenman
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Austrian Jaegers! Makes my heart swell to recall that my great-grandfather left for America to dodge the imperial draft!

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#97

Autochrome Of French Soldiers Operating Machine Guns During The Second Battle Of The Aisne, 1917

Autochrome Of French Soldiers Operating Machine Guns During The Second Battle Of The Aisne, 1917

Fernand Cuville Report

#98

The Last Digger, 1910

The Last Digger, 1910

John Cimon Warburg Report

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Ged Maybury
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Warburg took a lot of shots on this particular beach. Note the cart-tracks. Got me wondering.

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#99

The Butcher's Shop, 1915

The Butcher's Shop, 1915

John Cimon Warburg Report

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Pocho Basura
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

presently I am traveling in south asia, this 1915 meat shop is cleaner by far than any I see on the street here. looks like cow?

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#100

On The Sands, 1910

On The Sands, 1910

John Cimon Warburg Report

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Magdalene Green
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Again this is a mid twenties beach scene. The clothes and hats and hemlines are all wrong for 1915

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#102

Civic And Military Garb, C. 1911

Civic And Military Garb, C. 1911

Alfonse Van Besten Report

#104

Autochome Of A Street In Jerusalem By An Unknown Artist During The Early 20th Century

Autochome Of A Street In Jerusalem By An Unknown Artist During The Early 20th Century

Roger-Viollet collection Report

#105

Karnak, Egypt, 1913

Karnak, Egypt, 1913

Friedrich Adolf Paneth Report

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Maureen Loosemore
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It just looked like some ramshackle doorway until I noticed the size of the person standing under it.

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#106

Newsvendor In Reims Streets, 1917

Newsvendor In Reims Streets, 1917

Apic Report

#107

Autochrome Of A French Military Observation Post, 1917

Autochrome Of A French Military Observation Post, 1917

Paul Castelnau Report

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Mark Sutton
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Anything Freddie?... Nup. Pierre?...Nah...Pub for a quick wine a cheese platter? OUI!!!

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#108

A Woman With A Cart Filled With Milk Cans In Rue De Vesle And A Man With Another Cart In Rue De Talleyrand Behind Her. 3rd March 1917

A Woman With A Cart Filled With Milk Cans In Rue De Vesle And A Man With Another Cart In Rue De Talleyrand Behind Her. 3rd March 1917

Paul Castelnau Report

#109

Krusevac, Serbia (Market Scene), 1913

Krusevac, Serbia (Market Scene), 1913

Albert Kahn Report

#110

Two Nurses And Child Dressed As "Uncle Sam" In Wwi Support Parade, Pasadena California, 1917

Two Nurses And Child Dressed As "Uncle Sam" In Wwi Support Parade, Pasadena California, 1917

George Eastman Museum Report

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#112

A French Soldier Stands Next To A Table With German Shells And An Aircraft Propeller, Along The Western Front In Reims, 1917

A French Soldier Stands Next To A Table With German Shells And An Aircraft Propeller, Along The Western Front In Reims, 1917

Fernand Cuville Report

#113

Autochrome By An Unknown Artist Of The Italian Battleship Caio Duilio During The Early 20th Century

Autochrome By An Unknown Artist Of The Italian Battleship Caio Duilio During The Early 20th Century

Unknown Report

#114

Two French Soldiers Assigned To A Telephone Station Are Washing Their Laundry In A Trough Of A Fountain, While Three Others Are Watching, 18th June 1917

Two French Soldiers Assigned To A Telephone Station Are Washing Their Laundry In A Trough Of A Fountain, While Three Others Are Watching, 18th June 1917

Paul Castelnau Report

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Stinkypie Ticklebum
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Wait–if two guys are washing, where's the third watcher? I see the guy in the cave and the Sgt Shultz type guy...

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#115

French Soldiers Dig Through The Rubble Of A Destroyed Building In Reims, France, 1917

French Soldiers Dig Through The Rubble Of A Destroyed Building In Reims, France, 1917

Fernand Cuville Report