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So many things change when a person ages. Wrinkles, changing hairlines, graying hair, the list goes on... But one thing that always stays the same is a person's identity.
For his latest project called "Faces Of Century", photographer Jan Langer captured over a dozen Czech centenarians and compared their pictures of when they were young, and when they were over 100 years old.
"This set of comparative photos explores the similarities and the differences in appearance and in physiognomy," Langer writes about his project.
"The characteristics of personality change throughout life but it seems as if individual nature remains rooted in the abyss of time." See the portraits below.
More info: janlanger.net (h/t)
This post may include affiliate links.
#1
Marie Burešová, 23 Years Old (Wedding), 101 Years Old
Maggie Collins 8 years ago
Do all Czech people live over a hundred? Wow, they must be healthy. Great article! Thanks
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#2
Antonín Kovář, 25 Years Old (Bandmaster Of His Own Band), 102 Years Old
Shari H 8 years ago
Clearly he lived in joy which helped him age wonderfully. Smile even if you don't feel like it and you should look that good then too.
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#3
Vlasta Čížková, 23 Years Old (Finished Girl High School), 101 Years Old
Grace McEachin 8 years ago
'cute' girl and 'cute' at over a century - a 23 looked like she was inquisitive and ready to have fun at the slightest provocation and at 101 had not lost her spirit.
María Paz Greene F 7 years ago
I'm not sure if they're the same person. Ageing makes your nose bigger, and it's smaller when old in this case. Eyes of old gal are also much smaller, and don't have same shape. Am I wrong? Anyway, they do look lovely.
#4
Marie Fejfarová, Her Personal History Was Burnt; On The Right 101 Years Old
Valery Juarez 8 years ago
thats so sad that she never had any documents of her youth.at least shes still gorgeous
#5
Antonín Baldrman, 17 Years Old (Skilled Locksmith), 101 Years Old
Rob Bennett 5 months ago
Looks like he is saying “will you take the d**n picture!!” Those old folks don’t have time for waiting around
Susan Ramsay 8 years ago
I don't think it is the same guy. The ears are entirely different, and the left eye is asymmetrical.
Susan Ramsay 8 years ago
After pic does not look like the same guy. The ears are so different, and the left eye is slanted, or not asymmetrical.
#6
Prokop Vejdělek, 22 Years Old (Oath Of Enlistment), 101 Years Old
Heather Knechtel 8 years ago
Remarkable history! Here is a link to his memoires. If, like me, you don't know Czech, right click on the page and select "translate." It's worth the read.
Susan Ramsay 8 years ago
At 101 he looks like he's trying not to smile. Another guy with a very different ear. Maybe these guys are uncles or cousins.
Ildiko Okido 8 years ago
Ears change too over the years and a lot of years have gone by.
Load More Replies... Grace McEachin 8 years ago
handsome as a young man - but very serious - probably had good humor hidden behind his dark eyes ...at 101 .... he looks like 101 ....
#7
Bedřiška Köhlerová, 26 Years Old (Wedding), 103 Years Old
Grace McEachin 8 years ago
at 26 appears to me she had a good humor and at 103 had not lost her humor - amazing!
Amber Ice 8 years ago
I think she is a very funny old lady (as in: she looks like she's kidding ;p)
Just Jess 8 years ago
She's going to show her age at 103. You, however, can live on knowing that you insulted someone's grandmother on a public forum. Classless.
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#8
Anna Pochobradská, Around 30 Years Old, 100 Years Old
Johalis Molina 8 years ago
She looks very beautiful and sweet as young woman and at 101. She reminds me my grandma.
Susan Ramsay 8 years ago
Isn't that the same woman with no matching 'young' picture? Eye color is a lot darker.
Grace McEachin 8 years ago
at 30 she was rather pretty - ... her eyes had the same far away look at 100
#9
Ludmila Vysloužilová, 23 Years Old (Gift For Her Fiancé), 101 Years Old
Grace McEachin 8 years ago
at 23 ... beautiful and at 101 atho years took its toll - she became a very good looking 'senior' and I suspect her humor was still intact -
Susan Ramsay 8 years ago
These old faces have so much character. This young one, in particular, is kinda' blank.
#10
Stanislav Spáčil, 17 Years Old (Skilled Electrician), 102 Years Old
Tim Douglass 8 years ago
I think he looks more fun at 102 than he did at 17.
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Nora H. 8 years ago
The ears and nose keep growing all your life. A great example of this rigth here :)
#11
Vincenc Jetelina, 30 Years Old (Finished His House), 105 Years Old
Miklós Nagy 8 years ago
Good think: he hadn't lost any hair in the last 75 year. So there is still hope for me. ;_;
Eleanor Orser 8 years ago
Doesn't look anywhere near 105 years of age. I would have said 80-85 at most.
Ildiko Okido 8 years ago
I'm afraid he outlived all of his family, maybe even his children.
Load More Replies... Elmer Fudd 8 years ago
I enjoyed this article. I can easily ignite myself telling most of them, "Gee, you don't look your age." Anyway, the only things about the article that baffle me re the following statements: "it seems as if individual nature remains rooted in the abyss of time." and "The characteristics of personality change throughout life but it seems as if individual nature remains rooted in the abyss of time." What do they mean. More particularly, what do they have to do with the photographs? They seem to me to be a new category: Absolutely meaningless attempts at profundity.
Elmer Fudd 8 years ago
I just don't understand how I can make the typos that I constantly do. Anyway, "ignite" should have been "imagine." Since there is no EDIT button, I might as well go on to say that "re" should have been "are," there should have been a question mark after "What do they mean?"
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Pia Mogollon 8 years ago
This is such an intense set of images, such a difference to me of the young vs old. Inthe young he looks matter of fact. It is the old that pulls at my heart such sad looking eyes, tired and the confidence that those young eyes held seems to have gone. Icannot wonder what hapenned overthose 75 years.
#12
Ludvík Chybík, 20 Years Old (Skilled Confectioner), 102 Years Old
Maria Lazaridou 8 years ago
Something about the left picture reminds me of a young Robert De Niro.
Pia Mogollon 8 years ago
Wow just wow i do not see the same personality. Not at all. This man has stories to tell and i think they are probably heartbreaking.
Grace McEachin 8 years ago
He looked sprite and so ready to take on the world - at 102 ... he looks tire and rough - but in an instant I think his countenance would change and he would have humor behind that image He probably worked very hard all his life.
#13
Anna Vašinová, 22 Years Old (After Wedding), 102 Years Old
Andrea Van Delden 8 years ago
I bet she had a hard/pain filled life. Either that or she was just grumpy!
Johanna E.M.H. van bronswijk 4 years ago
Thank you! This is a perfect series! Also to use it in university education to teach students the increasing diversity with age! I hope it is allowed to use the pictures for that purpose!
Genevieve Gates 8 years ago
I hate that are nose & ears keep growing. Also, this would have been a good one for the slide feature.
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What do you think ?
Amanda Panda 8 years ago
I can’t imagine the emotions that must stir in thinking about their childhood versus now: when most people probably lived in poverty, horses were a primary means of transportation, men and women met at dances, courted before marriage, dressed well … to today, when people can make money off social media, technology is in abundance, vehicles are measured in horse power, people can meet strangers for hookups on tinder. And yet, many things haven’t changed: Racial and religious intolerance, greed and power hungry political leaders, and wars leading news paper headlines.
John L 8 years ago
Just imagine what they have managed to live through, to reach this point in their lives. WWII, Soviet occupation, and hard knocks. They deserve special credit.
Victor Vakaras 8 years ago
lol the gopniks upset all upset. Of course it was an occupation, f*****g morons. (not you, the gopniks)
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Sea_of_Skies 8 years ago
These are cool. You don't have to be famous to be awesome like these sweet old people!
Notchimine Mette 8 years ago
It's true what they say, your ears and nose never stop growing and your lips get thinner with age. Most make-up artists forget this bit when they "age" an actor for a film. Lovely spotted wrinkled skin with this tiny nose. Always looks out of place.
Patricia Dobos 8 years ago
I don't think they are growing continously, rather your face becomes thinner this is why they look bigger when you are getting old. :)
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Nancy Arnold 8 years ago
I would love to sit and chat with them , imagine what they went through . Everyone could right a book about their life , I bet they could write a novel
Harry Dominguez 8 years ago
Sublime....and depressing at the same time. Makes me reflect on my own lifetime, how my feelings and thoughts have evolved throughtout the years; how my views on life, love and goals have changed and are still changing. But it also depresses me on how, finally, we all end like this, until we are definitely gone..... nothing is "for ever". Everything has an end.....
Irene Walton 8 years ago
Absolutely LOVED these, thanks for sharing, mad me cry a bit , don't know why
Amanda Panda 8 years ago
I can’t imagine the emotions that must stir in thinking about their childhood versus now: when most people probably lived in poverty, horses were a primary means of transportation, men and women met at dances, courted before marriage, dressed well … to today, when people can make money off social media, technology is in abundance, vehicles are measured in horse power, people can meet strangers for hookups on tinder. And yet, many things haven’t changed: Racial and religious intolerance, greed and power hungry political leaders, and wars leading news paper headlines.
John L 8 years ago
Just imagine what they have managed to live through, to reach this point in their lives. WWII, Soviet occupation, and hard knocks. They deserve special credit.
Victor Vakaras 8 years ago
lol the gopniks upset all upset. Of course it was an occupation, f*****g morons. (not you, the gopniks)
Load More Replies... Sea_of_Skies 8 years ago
These are cool. You don't have to be famous to be awesome like these sweet old people!
Notchimine Mette 8 years ago
It's true what they say, your ears and nose never stop growing and your lips get thinner with age. Most make-up artists forget this bit when they "age" an actor for a film. Lovely spotted wrinkled skin with this tiny nose. Always looks out of place.
Patricia Dobos 8 years ago
I don't think they are growing continously, rather your face becomes thinner this is why they look bigger when you are getting old. :)
Load More Replies... Nancy Arnold 8 years ago
I would love to sit and chat with them , imagine what they went through . Everyone could right a book about their life , I bet they could write a novel
Harry Dominguez 8 years ago
Sublime....and depressing at the same time. Makes me reflect on my own lifetime, how my feelings and thoughts have evolved throughtout the years; how my views on life, love and goals have changed and are still changing. But it also depresses me on how, finally, we all end like this, until we are definitely gone..... nothing is "for ever". Everything has an end.....
Irene Walton 8 years ago
Absolutely LOVED these, thanks for sharing, mad me cry a bit , don't know why
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