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The Victorian era gave us many great inventions that we still use today - bicycles, Morse code, ice cream as we know it, and even the telephone. The era of Queen Victoria's reign, though, had some pretty bizarre happenings too. Such as ladies getting stuck in doorways because of their extra big dress skirts and constantly fainting as a result of very tight corsets. Also, the London fog did exist, and it comprised of nothing else than heavy pollution from coal mines and the city being in regular fires. Victorians were oddly obsessed with Egyptology and makeup, especially lipstick, which was compared to witchcraft. To add even more fun to the mix, the social rules and behavior codes were amazingly strict.
With life this pleasant, it's no wonder that nobody was smiling in the creepy pictures taken in the Victorian era. Everybody looks so severe that it seems as if people in the 1800s just didn't have the time, or strength to have fun. But as these rare vintage photos prove, that wasn't always the case.
There are many theories as to why Victorians always look so dour in pictures. Long exposure times made smiling difficult (and by long we mean several hours. Seriously. Ever tried smiling for several hours? It hurts) and the high cost of portraits gave people very little to smile about. Poor dental hygiene made people reluctant to show their teeth (or whatever teeth they had left), and let's not forget that many Victorians simply had it too rough a life to take funny pictures. But as you can see from the vintage photography exemplars below, some still found something to smile about. From gentlemen cross-dressing as fair ladies of the times, to probably the first awkward family photos in history, the few Victorians, who managed to have some fun, are all here. (h/t: whizzpast)
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#1
A Victorian Couple Trying Not To Laugh While Getting Their Portraits Done, 1890s
Natalia Sanchez 9 years ago
There was a journalist / comedian called Jorge Ginsburg here in Argentina who looked just like this fellow.
Megan Dare 4 years ago
Do more research on the art of corsets. They were not the torture machines people think they were. They were in fact a support garment, made to help the person carry all those heavy layers of skirts, aid in posture, and help with bust support like a bra would today. The corset was mearly a practical comfortable undergarmentand. And the fashionable silhouette was achieved by padding out the hips and bust to give the allusion of a tiny waist.
Allen 5 years ago
They had their life and their times of fun, just like we're having ours now
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#2
Cakewalk Dance
Christine Doan 9 years ago
so did they really have to pose like that while the picture was being taken?
Sherryl Wilson 9 years ago
I was wondering the same thing. Cause if they did, they probably had trouble standing up straight for a week.
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Allen 5 years ago
You might be right, just by looking at that pose. By Edwardian times, photography had advanced some ways to where there became much shorter waiting times to have to hold a pose for your photograph. In Victorian times, you still had to hold a pose for around 2 hours, and nobody could hold a position like in this picture for that long
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A Unique Tea Setting For Two
Belinda Mullinix 9 years ago
"And today's Winner of the Internet is: Damian!" *+Wild applause breaks out+*
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#4
A Snow Lady, 1892
Yvonne Bernal 8 years ago
With the assistance of only a shovel and pair of scissors, they erected and modeled the ‘Snow Lady’ in a garden. No foundation of any kind was used, and no sticks or wires were concealed under the figure for the purpose of supporting head, body, or arms.
Susan Cantrell 4 years ago
Sorry, the original just shows a regular snowman. This has been Photoshopped.
#5
Unusual Portrait Of A Victorian Lady, 1840
Liz Pease 9 years ago
Not 1840. The dress is a style from the early 20th century (c. 1910-1920)
Steve Channon 7 years ago
And the first photograph portrait ever was in 1839. People weren't sitting for portraits in 1840.
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Christine Williams 8 years ago
Date is wrong-1840 is far too early. The fashions/hairstyle suggest early 1900s.
#6
Three Fashionable Young Men At Yale, 1883
Faith Highlander 9 years ago
They really do look like women! Their hands & wrists or feminine... especially the one in the middle.
leilak1 3 years ago
Welcome to today's world of transgenders...Many famous women in the entertainment industry are trans and the public doesnt even know it...
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Samantha Bear 9 years ago
I have pictures in my head of Jack Lemmon looking to this photo for inspiration for Some Like It Hot :P
Jovy Jergens 9 years ago
I think in those days, all of the student body was male and had to play female parts in school plays. Then again, maybe they just like 'dress-up" night. Not exactly my dream dates.
Summer Smith 9 years ago
This was probably the theatre department and not considered a joke at the time, as theatrical acting was only considered proper for men. Still today, some older colleges only have men play the parts in "traditional" plays.
#7
Awkward Family Photo, Victorian Edition
Betsye Richardson 9 years ago
Victorian era antiques & houses are not scary at all to me . Raised with both due to my Kentuckian mother's love of Victorian design. In the 60s & 70s she could find great deals on older pieces of furniture. Honestly , it's always seemed friendly & pretty looking rather than dark , haunted & scarey . Not that the Adams family wasn't great !
Grace Cupp 12 months ago
This room feels so cozy, but I can get that the black and white does give it a spooky vibe haha
#8
Tsar Nicholas II Goofing Around, 1899
Boriana Slabakova-Dimitrova 9 years ago
ok, is it just me or does anyone else see an odd looking wrinkle in the pants of the guy in the right??? Please tell me its not just me.....
Louise Stange-Wahl 3 years ago (edited)
In 2004, an exhibit of Czar Nicholas and family's personal effects opened in Santa Fe. My hubby's high-tech computer firm was in charge of the museum's safety. I could tell he was upset when I spoke with him on the phone. He had relatives who were able to leave the royal service safely. He was describing what he was seeing, and somehow I knew and asked "Is the painting there?" He was quiet for a second, and I could not stop crying. There is a painting of Nicholas on his white Arabian horse that I have always loved. We have Arabian horses and know how special they are. He went on to describe how the entire building (which is certifiably haunted) felt not like it had been before. Seeing the children's toys and so many other pieces of their lost lives was so devastating, I knew I could not bear seeing it. This photo was sad for me to see.
Lisa Revay 6 years ago
personally sadly he was just a big child not quite ready for being the tszar sadly wasted lives no one evere dersved to die or sadly be executed by bloody cowards
#9
Vintage Humor
Ann Herring 9 years ago
exactly what I thought! no wonder she's pulling a funny face!
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Kim Turner 9 years ago
OMG look at her waist!! She must have kept her internal organs in her handbag!!
Kim Turner 9 years ago
OMG look at her waist!!! she must have kept her internal organs in her handbag!
#10
Piggy Nose
Jeanne Bunting 8 years ago
Did the Victorian's play 'Pig'? This is a game my grown-up children still play only without the playing cards! https://www.activityvillage.co.uk/pig
#11
Men And Women Cross Dress In This Silly Victorian Snap, 1880-1900
buellersmama 9 years ago
I believe they called it "tarts and vicars", English, strange sense of humor! lol
Nona Bologna 4 years ago
They aren't crossdressing. They are wearing costumes for pantomime, which was a popular game back then.
Dawn Parsonage 5 years ago
Hey there, I'm a photography collector and just to flag up, this photograph is from my archive. I know it's hard to edit the post to credit me after its submitted, but if anyone else uses this image please credit Dawn Parsonage and FOUNDPHOTOUK on insta. Thanks!
#12
Say That Again, And I'll Dip You In, 1897
Ramon Burnet 9 years ago
He came op with the words sadism and masochism. And made a very popular book about sexual behaviors, partly in Latin so not every one could read it.. quote wiki: Krafft-Ebing's principal work is Psychopathia Sexualis: eine Klinisch-Forensische Studie (Sexual Psychopathy: A Clinical-Forensic Study), which was first published in 1886 and expanded in subsequent editions. The last edition from the hand of the author (the twelfth) contained a total of 238 case histories of human sexual behaviour.
#13
Unknown Victorian In Mid-jump
Marie-Michèle Lacroix 9 years ago
Hum... If it took several hours exposure, is it me or she couldn't have stayed that way for long...
Nona Bologna 4 years ago
It wasnt several hours for that type of canera. Still this is odd.
Load More Replies... Jovy Jergens 9 years ago
I assume there is a jump rope I can't make out. Let's hope this isn't the end of a 10-story jump.
Peggy Blanchard 9 years ago
From the way her hands are held, I think she probably was using a jump rope.
Marilyn Slater 9 years ago
She's skipping; we can see the handles, but the rope is faded from view.
#14
Vacation Sports At The Seaside
Lena Hunter 9 years ago
if this wasn't their normal beach attire, i'd say it was actually rather fashionable.
Mája Šmilauerová 9 years ago
Still much more fashionable than a lot you can see at the beaches nowadays ;)
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Brittney Geist 9 years ago
In those days, they are showing ALOT of skin... I bet there was people on that beach calling them indecent LOL oh how times have changed
John Culme 9 years ago
Compare these costumes with those worn by Florence Lloyd and Grace Palotta in the musical, A Gaiety Girl, produced in New York in 1894 - https://footlightnotes.wordpress.com/2013/01/29/grace-palotta-and-florence-lloyd-as-they-appeared/
#15
Richard Freiherr Von Krafft-Ebing
Ramon Burnet 9 years ago
He came op with the words sadism and masochism. And made a very popular book about sexual behaviors, partly in Latin so not every one could read it.. quote wiki: Krafft-Ebing's principal work is Psychopathia Sexualis: eine Klinisch-Forensische Studie (Sexual Psychopathy: A Clinical-Forensic Study), which was first published in 1886 and expanded in subsequent editions. The last edition from the hand of the author (the twelfth) contained a total of 238 case histories of human sexual behaviour.
Kelli Nix-Snellgrove 9 years ago
I thought sadism was coined after the Marquise de Sade and his wicked cravings and writings.
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Irene McIver 9 years ago
Rib-tickling Victorians (found in an Oxfam shop) caption1-5...b3fb82.jpg 
Irene McIver 9 years ago
Photo still doesn't seem to be showing for some reason. Bored Panda, what's the problem here? Why doesn't this list have have the usual "add image" button, and why can't I add a photo to the comments either? I've tried several times :-(
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Lulu Girard 9 years ago
The last photo isn't a humor photo. This guy was serious in his cross-dressing. I think his photo is beautiful and a bit wistful.
Lulu Girard 9 years ago
They were kinky and kooky, those Victorians. All you have to do is read the literature of the time to find out. Love these photos!
Deborah May 9 years ago
I doubt this was intended to be humorous. It is probably a photo of a cross-dresser used in Kraft-Ebbing's serious research on sexuality.
Bernard Hall-Falconer 9 years ago
http://publicdomainreview.org/collections/photograph-collection-of-a-19th-century-sexologist/
Evangelina A. Ledesma Bussoli 9 years ago
Von Krafft-Ebing was a psychiatrist... the man in the photo aren´t him! He described in his book about sexual disorders...
Joy Kuszmar 9 years ago
That's not actually Richard Freiherr Von Krafft-Ebing, but it is from his personal collection of photographs.
#16
The Victorians From France
#17
Courting In The 1800s Never Looked Better
Vanessa Appleby 9 years ago
This picture is great, but I'm pretty sure this around 1910 based on their attire.
LuNaLover Alex 9 years ago
I still want to know how the hell women got their hair like that back then...
#18
This Is As Close To A Victorian Selfie As It's Going To Get
Kati Alyssa 9 years ago
I have found actual selfies from the early 1910s. They were by college girls and were preserved in a scrapbook I found at an antique store.
Kristi Louie 6 years ago
she was movie star gorgeous. Look at that smile! Rare to find such aesthetically pleasing teeth in Victorian era photos.
Michel M. Prins 8 years ago
After seeing so many stern and serious faces in photographs of the Victorian era, it's fun to see such a relaxed and happy face in a photo from that same time!
#19
Tsar Nicholas II Goofing Around, 1899
#20
Smiling Victorians
Qwerty65 9 years ago
Looks like the poster advertisement for a good movie or TV show. "Smiling Victorians" sounds like a comedy or a drama, too.
Rhonda Whisenhunt 7 years ago
Looks like they're doing the " Cuckoo Clock" song, like in The Sound of Music.
Irene McIver 9 years ago
This is exactly why we don't often see Victorians smiling in photos! Holding a smile for a long exposure is tough, and would often result in slight motion blur (as seen in the faces at the back left) or a strained an unnatural expression, as seen on front ones.
#21
Smiling Little Girls
Hind Hani 9 years ago
That hair! Were their curls natural? Because today behalf my daughter who got that beautiful curls, I have never any kid with those curls but it seems that all little girls of that time got curls.
Jenifer Winterbine 9 years ago
They used to tie locks of the hair around strips of cloth of the hair and leave it that way overnight to create ringlets. It was still being done that way in the 1940s and fifties — I know because I'm old enough to have had my hair curled that way when I was a child. All they did was wrap locks of hair around and around a strip of cloth until it was fully wrapped from end of tress to scalp and then tie the ends of the cloth together to fasten it.
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#22
Victorians Pulling Face, 1900
#23
Smiling Victorians, 1900s
#24
Victorians, 1800s
Lieutenant BaconWaffles 6 years ago
The two first ladies in line to play the Colonel Sanders Dating Sim.
Shaun Baxter 9 years ago
I think the woman on the right might be deceased. The man and the woman on the left are looking in the same direction. The woman on the right's arm around the man also looks a little unnaturally bent. If anyone in this picture is deceased, it's her.
#25
Tsar Nicholas II, 1899
Will Larimer 5 years ago
The adults don't look like they are having nearly as much fun as the little girl.
#26
Men Dressed In Drag In The Victorian Era
#27
Fashion Victorians Women, 19th Century
April Fillmore 9 years ago
I think they are teasing and its the hand gesture for shame on you.
Chella Marie 9 years ago
Yes, it was a means of saying to someone back then that they were acting out or being "naughty". Example: "Tsk-tsk, shame on you!"
Chella Marie 9 years ago
Yes, it was a means of saying something like "naughty, naughty" or tsk tsk" "shame on you".
#28
A Smiling Queen Victoria In An Open Coach, 1892
Lily Quinn 9 years ago
God people they are just normal people that for some reason we allow to take everything that working class and poor families have instead of helping them.
#29
Smiling Victorian, 1800s
#30
Miss Barton Dressed In A Late Victorian Tennis Outfit
#31
Man Pulling A Funny Face
#32
A Woman Riding A 'scorcher', A Victorian Bicycle, In St James' Park, London
Mary Paquette 8 years ago
It is a photo, a woman on a bike in a photographer 's studio with an fake background.
spharoe 5 years ago
Because it’s so impossible for this to be real? 🤷🏻♀️
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Bracha Sicherman 9 years ago
I thought in those days it was frowned upon for women to ride bicycles.
Dawn Sam White-Fletcher 9 years ago
If they are going to choose a backdrop, put leaves on the damn trees...LOL
Marilyn Slater 9 years ago
The young woman is posing on her bike in front of a painted backdrop! Probably in a studio.
#33
Smiling Victorian Servants
Chella Marie 9 years ago
Naa, she's most likely fixing one of her top buttons actually. Almost fooled me though lol. xP
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Alannah Fletcher 9 years ago
This looks like the hours of the phantomhives from black butler. And black butler is based in the same time period. Wait a minute.. ITS REAL
Kathleena Dunmore 5 years ago
the bribe/bonus? they got from their boss to look happy about working there
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#35
A Group Of Smiling Edwardians
Donna Oades 9 years ago
Oh wow I didn't even see the cat till I read your comment, it's teeny!!
Load More Replies... Lauren Adhami 4 years ago
That dude does not look like the kind of man who would smile in a photograph. Awesome!
Hamlets twin 9 years ago
With the right makeup, she would look like the joker! at least jacks or caesars anyway
#36
Man Pulling A Comical Face, 1900
#37
A Group Of Women To Celebrate The Centenary Of The London Bus
Emily Bryant 9 years ago
I don't think this picture is actually from the victorian era. Its way to clear and sharp.
Takara Soong 9 years ago
I did a quick search and R.M. Vivian Cars (the sign in the background) didn't exist until 1924.
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Carol Gordon Wood 9 years ago
"The origins of London bus preservation go back to 1929 when the London General Omnibus Company assembled a few of its early motorbuses to take part in a celebration of 100 years of London bus operation. Following the success of that centenary parade, those early buses were kept aside in the works for similar future use." http://www.londonbusmuseum.com/about-us/our-history/
I'm.Just.A.Girl 3 years ago
If this is a victorian era picture, someone cleaned it up. But just imagine how much fabric and material went into each dress.
Kathleena Dunmore 5 years ago
why all the hate for Edwardian and deco period photos? old is old, 100 years is plenty! don't people who like victorian probably also like those too? Or maybe there aren't as many groups for those and you need to start them if you don't want newer photos crashing your victorian party.
Chella Marie 9 years ago
Na, you can tell by the men and boys off to the side in '20-30's style clothing.
#38
Gibson Girls
Umb O 3 years ago
Wonderful observation. One of those "Look at that....... Oh God his teeth" moments.
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#39
Evelyn Winchester
Lieutenant BaconWaffles 6 years ago
Showing bare ankles in public moments before the beach police issue a citation for indecent exposure.
Jessie Escalante 9 years ago
I believe she is, there's a haunted mansion in san Jose that's hers...if this is the same person
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#40
The 20th Century Victorian Man With Banishing Woman
Rhon 9 years ago
It is a stage set. The Victorians often entertained themselves by putting on plays.
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#41
The Smiling Victorians
#42
Smiling 1850s Lady
Alyson Chard-Shoss 9 years ago
OMG! That was my exact first thought as well!!
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#43
Smiling Victorians, 1900s
Suzanne Bitterlich 9 years ago
Even then they had photo bombers. Lol. The man laying in the background.
Marie-Michèle Lacroix 9 years ago
Can someone explain to me if this was exposed for hours, how come the shadow of the hat is so clear?
Corina Tusinean 9 years ago
Did some digging on Wikipedia. It seems exposure took hours in the early years but after 1837 it was shortened to minutes due to scientific advancements. Judging by the way they are dressed i think the photo was taken somewhere between 1890 and 1910 so by then long exposure was no longer an issue.
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#44
Victorians Pulling Face, 1900
#45
Smiling Victorian, 1800s
#46
A Family In Fancy Dress, 1880-1900
Master Markus 9 years ago
What is that man on the left wearing? It looks like a dress made out of a quilt!
#47
A Young Couple A Photographed In Fancy Dress, 1880-1900
Will Larimer 5 years ago
It looks to me like they both thought he was about to paddle her.
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I'm.Just.A.Girl 3 years ago
All of these pictures make me feel as though they could be anyone of my friends. More human than simply an era that was so oppressive. I love this list!!
I'm.Just.A.Girl 3 years ago
I think they're both women in character. You can see a bun on the left person's head.. with maybe a drawn on mustache
Guido Martin 5 years ago
the gravel shows the impression of wide-ish treaded tyres. these were not invented until 1904 and early tyres were very narrow
#48
Slicker-Looking Guy
Austin Berube 3 years ago
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/82802764/james-h-mcconnell This is the guy in the picture with a cigar in his mouth
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I'm.Just.A.Girl 3 years ago
I'd love to learn how to do the hairstyles some of the women have.
Austin Berube 3 years ago
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/82802764/james-h-mcconnell This is the guy in the picture with a cigar in his mouth
Austin Berube 3 years ago
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/82802764/james-h-mcconnell This is the guy in the picture with a cigar in his mouth
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Austin Berube 3 years ago
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/82802764/james-h-mcconnell This is the guy in the picture with a cigar in his mouth
Load More Replies... #49
Young Ladies
Daria B 9 years ago
I like lists like these, showing a more humane side of people of the past, making them feel closer to us, since we're thinking of them as just abstract characters usually. I bet the "dark middle ages" were really not as dark either.
Rhon 9 years ago
The dark ages refers to the lack of information about the period. Dark meaning Unknown.
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Riley Bernard 6 years ago
I love how it makes them seem more human and relatable. Imagine if we could have had photos and videos since the beginning
The fascination with historical beauty standards isn't limited to just one period. Just as the Edwardian era had its unique trends, the Victorians were known for their curious mix of strict societal norms and whimsical eccentricities.
These vintage photographs of smiling Victorians capture a rare glimpse of humor in a time often painted as somber, drawing parallels to the charming allure of Edwardian elegance.
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What do you think ?
Rose Thorne 9 years ago
Most people were unable to afford photographs taken with a quick exposure camera, which would explain Czar Nicholas having the fastest shutter speed. I've seen a few others on this list before as examples of experimental photography from the time: the woman jumping is a good example, and I've seen it before. To be fair, several appear to be Edwardian, but I'm a photographer, not a historian.. the processes on a few appear newer and on silver nitrate.
Burl Lampert 9 years ago
I was suspicious of a few of them too, but what the hell, it's fun.
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Austin Berube 3 years ago
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/82802764/james-h-mcconnell This is the guy from #48 in the picture with a cigar in his mouth
Ben Button 5 years ago
I remember Robin Williams in 'Dead Poets Society', "food for worms boy's."
ABigail Mercy 7 years ago
weird..but intriguing. Nice to see the humorous side of Victorians instead of the scary and serious photos we keep seeing
Patrick Korolewicz 8 years ago
Great to see joy and humor instead of the dour faces we have been accustomed to asspciated with the era
Lulu Girard 9 years ago
Of course Victorian and Edwardian people had lives, and a great sense of humor. Must read some literature during that era, and it's very evident.
Rose Thorne 9 years ago
Most people were unable to afford photographs taken with a quick exposure camera, which would explain Czar Nicholas having the fastest shutter speed. I've seen a few others on this list before as examples of experimental photography from the time: the woman jumping is a good example, and I've seen it before. To be fair, several appear to be Edwardian, but I'm a photographer, not a historian.. the processes on a few appear newer and on silver nitrate.
Burl Lampert 9 years ago
I was suspicious of a few of them too, but what the hell, it's fun.
Load More Replies... Austin Berube 3 years ago
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/82802764/james-h-mcconnell This is the guy from #48 in the picture with a cigar in his mouth
Ben Button 5 years ago
I remember Robin Williams in 'Dead Poets Society', "food for worms boy's."
ABigail Mercy 7 years ago
weird..but intriguing. Nice to see the humorous side of Victorians instead of the scary and serious photos we keep seeing
Patrick Korolewicz 8 years ago
Great to see joy and humor instead of the dour faces we have been accustomed to asspciated with the era
Lulu Girard 9 years ago
Of course Victorian and Edwardian people had lives, and a great sense of humor. Must read some literature during that era, and it's very evident.
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