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We often think of history in black and white, quite literally. And that’s because most very old photographs are indeed monochrome, taken before a time when images could easily and affordably be developed in living color. While there’s a certain charm to black and white pics, they can sometimes give the impression that the past was a little duller, or less alive. Which couldn't be further from the truth.
Enter colorized historical photos. A trend that adds splashes of color to frozen moments, warming up faces, giving eyes some sparkle, and breathing new life into everyday scenes from years gone by. The reimagined photographs remind us that the people who came before us were real humans, with colorful clothing, rosy cheeks, sunlit surroundings, and lives as vivid as our own.
There’s an online community dedicated to sharing gorgeous colorized historical photographs. r/ColorizedHistory has clocked up more than 631,000 members. And it’s not hard to see why. The posts put a new spin on old photography, and turn the static past into a stunning, colorful gallery that somehow helps to bridge the gap between “then” and “now.” Bored Panda has put together a list of our favorite ones. Keep scrolling and prepare to step back in time, while gaining a new perspective on history.
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#1
A Serbian Soldier Sleeps With His Father Who Came To Visit Him On The Front Line Near Belgrade , 1914/1915
Taking an old black and white photograph and adding some color can be truly captivating and beautiful. Color breathes life into a person from long ago, who might otherwise seem distant or abstract.
It can also increase our emotional connection with the subjects. And some argue that colorised images can make history more engaging, especially for younger generations. Those who are accustomed to high-definition, full-color images and video.
But not everyone agrees. Some critics believe there are some serious ethical and cultural implications when it comes to colorizing historical photos...
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#2
Senegalese Ww1 Soldier Who Lost Both His Arms Writes A Letter With His New Prosthetic Limbs. At Vocational Rehabilitation School For Amputees, 28 Avenue De New-York, Paris - 1918
#3
Mark Twain And His Long-Time Friend John T. Lewis, The Inspiration For The Character "Jim" In "Huckleberry Finn", New York, 1903
Some argue that colorising photos of traumatic or sacred historical moments can be disrespectful. They believe that “beautifying” suffering distract from the seriousness of certain events.
While others say that adding color can overwrite or erase marginalized narratives. If done wrong, adding color could distort the truth about race, class, or culture. For example, portraying a Black historical figure with light skin... is just plain wrong.
#6
"Do Your Bit! Skate To Work" Women Of The Uso Promoting Gas Rationing During WWII. New York City, 1940s
“The problem with colorisation, is it leads people to just think about photographs as a kind of uncomplicated window into the past, and that’s not what they are,” argues University of Dublin History professor, Emily Mark-Fitzgerald.
She believes that adding colour, extra frames, or removing dust and scratches, takes away from the original piece. In other words, it defeats the point of preservation.
#8
Titanic Orphans, Brothers Michel And Edmond Navratil, 1912. They Were The Only Children To Be Rescued From The Titanic Without A Parent Or Guardian
#9
1902: Knife Grinders In Thiers, France
These knife grinders had the nickname of ventres jaunes or ‘yellow stomachs’ referring to the yellow dust released by the grinding wheels.
By laying face down, these yellow stomachs would save their backs from being hunched over all day. Workers were encourage to bring their dogs to not only keep them company but to act as heaters to keep them warm by having the dogs lie on their legs!
But not everyone agrees. The team at Little Dot Studios often add color to historical films and photographs. History is always evolving, they argue. And likewise the way we experience that history evolves, too.
"I agree with Professor Emily Mark-Fitzgerald that photographs are a complicated and imperfect window to the past," writes one of the junior content editors. "But, I also believe that lowering the barriers of understanding, allowing the window to be a window and not a wall, is a very important thing."
#10
Martin Luther King Jr.’s, 1958 Arrest In Montgomery, Alabama. A Photo Taken By Charles Moore
#11
"The Giant Of Illinois" - Robert Wadlow, The Tallest Man In Recorded History, With His Family - 1935
#12
A Photographer Uses His Own Backdrop To Mask Poland's World War II Ruins While Shooting A Portrait In Warsaw, November 1946
#13
Swedish High Jumper Gunhild Larking From The 1956 Summer Olympics In Melbourne, Australia, From Archives Of Life Magazine
#14
A Japanese Mother And Child, Dressed In Traditional Clothing, Siting Amid Rubble And Burnt Trees In Hiroshima, 4 Months After The Atomic Bomb Was Dropped. December, 1945 By Alfred Eisenstaedt
#16
"The Kiss Of Life" - A Utility Worker Giving Mouth-To-Mouth To A Co-Worker After He Contacted A Low Voltage Wire - 1967
#17
A Dog Stealing A Postman's Glove, Minneapolis, CA. 1950, Photograph Courtesy Of The Minneapolis Historical Society
#18
Comedian And Entertainer Lucille Ball Applies Makeup For A Performance In Her Dressing Room. 1934
#20
A Polish Woman, Holding Her Small Child, Stands On A Warsaw Street That Has Been Destroyed By Luftwaffe Bomber Raids At The Start Of World War II In Europe - September, 1939
#24
Albert Einstein Receiving His U.S. Citizenship Certificate After His Naturalization Ceremony - Oct. 1, 1940
#25
Ian Turner, Member Of The I.W.W. (Industrial Workers Of The World) At A Rally In Union Square, New York City, 11 April 1914
You might also like: Forgotten history: 83 rare images that reveal how people used to live
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