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After People Claimed That This Smiling Man Photo From 1901 Was Fake, Tumblr User Explained That Rural Chinese People Didn’t Know How To Pose
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After People Claimed That This Smiling Man Photo From 1901 Was Fake, Tumblr User Explained That Rural Chinese People Didn’t Know How To Pose

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One thing that comes to mind when thinking about early photography is probably the lack of smiles. Today we instinctively put a big grin on our faces when someone with the camera approaches, however it was rather uncommon in the early 1800’s. So it’s probably not that surprising that when a photo of a Chinese man with a big toothy grin, which was taken in the early 1900’s, has surfaced people began doubting its authenticity.

More info: lbry-web-007.amnh.org

The American Museum of Natural History confirmed, that the photo titled “Eating rice, China” and taken between 1901-1904 is authentic

The photo was taken during Jacob H. Schiff Chinese expedition when a young German scholar Berthold Laufer was sent to China to investigate the foreign culture. During the 3 years long expedition Laufer gathered 143 photographs, however, there is no information on how he acquired them because there is no evidence that he took the photos himself. There is also no explanation who is the Chinese man in the photo and why he decided to strike a pose like that. However, some people speculate that when a man was asked to pose for a photo, he wasn’t aware of a western tradition to keep s serious face during the process.

Tumblr user explains why it was so rare for people to smile in photos, and why this Chinese man is an exception

For around 100 years since the photography was invented, smiling was a rare occurrence. It only started to become the norm In the late 1920s. You may wonder how this sort of tradition was born. Well, there several explanations. Some people argue that poor dental hygiene led people to smile less. And while most people could afford to have their photo taken probably once per lifetime, they didn’t want to go down in history by showing a toothless grin.

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Other’s say that the time it took to take a picture is to blame. However, it’s only partly true. While the very first cameras did, in fact, had a very long exposure time, some of which lasted around 8 hours, things swiftly changed. By the 1850’s and 60’s the exposure time was shortened from hours to seconds, so people didn’t have to stay in the same position for hours and capturing smiles became easier.

But probably the most plausible reason is that people early photographers followed the footsteps of painters. Back in the day, many portraits didn’t show smiling people, so it didn’t felt natural to allow people to smile in the photos too.

While a lot of people loved the photo

Others couldn’t believe it is real

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alexacwei avatar
ChiveChilly
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This photo made me smile. Such a fun looking man, told to strike a pose, so he just did what he wanted to & looked happy :)

sweet_freak avatar
Bebba
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I love this photo, though. His huge smile makes me want to smile.

marneederider40 avatar
Marnee DeRider
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Do we see young healthy animals in the wild running around with rotting teeth? Do we see old photos of hunter-gatherers where young healthy people all had rotting teeth? It isn't natural for our teeth to rot out of our faces.

mastermarkus avatar
Master Markus
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Rotting teeth is often because of a lot of sugar. Also, while "hunter-gatherers" might not have rotting teeth, people through history, especially poorer people, might have worn-down teeth.

Load More Replies...
januarseed avatar
Januar Ciel
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

great smile. the photo's 'real'. we are just not used to people of that era smiling in pics. read article.

fcolumbeanu avatar
Filip Columbeanu
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Regarding the teeth. Recently they dug up a poor's people graveyard in downtown Bucharest. The skeletons showed signs of multiple ailments but they all had perfect teeth. It was stated that especially since their diet didn't contain any sugar (a luxury poor people couldn't afford).

diane1atk avatar
diane a
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That picture is perfect - why would anyone think it was fake. A happy oriental man with a great smile, wearing traditional clothing of the time, who held the expression long enough that it wasn't blurred. Just because it looks too focused??

may-loos avatar
May L
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I think that around that time (1900-1901) China was coming out of a period of natural disasters and famine as well as the Boxer Rebellion, food was short. The guy was probably over the moon to get that rice.

dingesreserve avatar
Joanne
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Such a great picture. He seems like a fun person to have as a friend.

t_janine avatar
Toni Tangents
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Perhaps the rural Chinese diet at the time didn't consist of much refined sugar. Refined sugar is the main culprit for rotten teeth.

dnlmonaco avatar
Daniel Monaco
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Look at that Happy mother f****r, dude is just happy the world is about to see how cool he is.

ambroise-lescop-2 avatar
Shelp
Community Member
5 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Well, that's the problem with the internet: some people once read something about something as a child, and now they act like specialists of the whole thing. Someone who has no idea whatsoever of photography will think: "it's a funny nice picture, I guess". A specialist will say: "what a lovely picture, really interesting indeed". And the one who once read that peoples don't smile on old pictures will scream: "THIS IS FAKE PEOPLES DIDN'T SMILE BACK IN THAT TIME THEY'RE LYING TO US WAKE UP"

jknbtjknbt avatar
jknbt jknbt
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

they did not have fast exposure photography until flashbulbs & fast emulsions for development...a smile would have had to be held exactly still for 3-5 seconds....to easy to move a smile a twitch, easier to get a picture without a blur if they closed their mouths & looked grim.... pro photographers in the 1860s actually used a hidden metal brace behind the head to help people stay still...otherwise, blurred shots...

stardustcinnamon avatar
stardust cinnamon
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

to be honest, he know how to pose but its just an unusual pose for western during that time and its pretty good actually.

min avatar
Min
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Didn't know how to pose!? He knew exactly how to pose! :D

xionandzion avatar
Clinton Yew
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

If you wondering about teeth, they chew some leaves that makes their teeth white and shiny. Google it.

joannaakayeshka avatar
Asia
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

He had healthy teeth, because he did not eat sugar and other garbage we eat today... Those were different times, different health issues etc.

awthrawthr avatar
Kelley Eidem
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Were cameras able to produce that level of clarity by 1904?

stevnju avatar
Steven Ju
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

absolutely! look up photos of theodore roosevelt! snapshot cameras (kodak photos) were available to the masses by this time. studio photos barely needed a touch up from an artist, and many times not at all.

Load More Replies...
booberryfreak avatar
la rana
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Dude, this guy invented the selfie! Who cares if someone else took the pic? That's legit selfie material right there!

3am avatar
3 AM
Community Member
5 years ago

This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

Yeah, right. Rather dark skinned "Chinese man" btw. And what is up with his left hand being so oversized? Nice letterman jacket, eh? Maybe a partial photoshop of an old photo? The way his face looks does not in any way resemble photos of the era, and I am not talking about his facial expression.

jeffrequier avatar
Jeff Requier
Community Member
5 years ago

This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

A lot of the reason that people say its fake is because 100 years ago humans looked way different then we do now.

mastermarkus avatar
Master Markus
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I hope you're joking, (but it's hard to tell over the internet) because humans have looked pretty much the same as we do now since ancient history barring changes due to hygiene and nutrition.

Load More Replies...
alexacwei avatar
ChiveChilly
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This photo made me smile. Such a fun looking man, told to strike a pose, so he just did what he wanted to & looked happy :)

sweet_freak avatar
Bebba
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I love this photo, though. His huge smile makes me want to smile.

marneederider40 avatar
Marnee DeRider
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Do we see young healthy animals in the wild running around with rotting teeth? Do we see old photos of hunter-gatherers where young healthy people all had rotting teeth? It isn't natural for our teeth to rot out of our faces.

mastermarkus avatar
Master Markus
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Rotting teeth is often because of a lot of sugar. Also, while "hunter-gatherers" might not have rotting teeth, people through history, especially poorer people, might have worn-down teeth.

Load More Replies...
januarseed avatar
Januar Ciel
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

great smile. the photo's 'real'. we are just not used to people of that era smiling in pics. read article.

fcolumbeanu avatar
Filip Columbeanu
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Regarding the teeth. Recently they dug up a poor's people graveyard in downtown Bucharest. The skeletons showed signs of multiple ailments but they all had perfect teeth. It was stated that especially since their diet didn't contain any sugar (a luxury poor people couldn't afford).

diane1atk avatar
diane a
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That picture is perfect - why would anyone think it was fake. A happy oriental man with a great smile, wearing traditional clothing of the time, who held the expression long enough that it wasn't blurred. Just because it looks too focused??

may-loos avatar
May L
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I think that around that time (1900-1901) China was coming out of a period of natural disasters and famine as well as the Boxer Rebellion, food was short. The guy was probably over the moon to get that rice.

dingesreserve avatar
Joanne
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Such a great picture. He seems like a fun person to have as a friend.

t_janine avatar
Toni Tangents
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Perhaps the rural Chinese diet at the time didn't consist of much refined sugar. Refined sugar is the main culprit for rotten teeth.

dnlmonaco avatar
Daniel Monaco
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Look at that Happy mother f****r, dude is just happy the world is about to see how cool he is.

ambroise-lescop-2 avatar
Shelp
Community Member
5 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Well, that's the problem with the internet: some people once read something about something as a child, and now they act like specialists of the whole thing. Someone who has no idea whatsoever of photography will think: "it's a funny nice picture, I guess". A specialist will say: "what a lovely picture, really interesting indeed". And the one who once read that peoples don't smile on old pictures will scream: "THIS IS FAKE PEOPLES DIDN'T SMILE BACK IN THAT TIME THEY'RE LYING TO US WAKE UP"

jknbtjknbt avatar
jknbt jknbt
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

they did not have fast exposure photography until flashbulbs & fast emulsions for development...a smile would have had to be held exactly still for 3-5 seconds....to easy to move a smile a twitch, easier to get a picture without a blur if they closed their mouths & looked grim.... pro photographers in the 1860s actually used a hidden metal brace behind the head to help people stay still...otherwise, blurred shots...

stardustcinnamon avatar
stardust cinnamon
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

to be honest, he know how to pose but its just an unusual pose for western during that time and its pretty good actually.

min avatar
Min
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Didn't know how to pose!? He knew exactly how to pose! :D

xionandzion avatar
Clinton Yew
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

If you wondering about teeth, they chew some leaves that makes their teeth white and shiny. Google it.

joannaakayeshka avatar
Asia
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

He had healthy teeth, because he did not eat sugar and other garbage we eat today... Those were different times, different health issues etc.

awthrawthr avatar
Kelley Eidem
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Were cameras able to produce that level of clarity by 1904?

stevnju avatar
Steven Ju
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

absolutely! look up photos of theodore roosevelt! snapshot cameras (kodak photos) were available to the masses by this time. studio photos barely needed a touch up from an artist, and many times not at all.

Load More Replies...
booberryfreak avatar
la rana
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Dude, this guy invented the selfie! Who cares if someone else took the pic? That's legit selfie material right there!

3am avatar
3 AM
Community Member
5 years ago

This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

Yeah, right. Rather dark skinned "Chinese man" btw. And what is up with his left hand being so oversized? Nice letterman jacket, eh? Maybe a partial photoshop of an old photo? The way his face looks does not in any way resemble photos of the era, and I am not talking about his facial expression.

jeffrequier avatar
Jeff Requier
Community Member
5 years ago

This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

A lot of the reason that people say its fake is because 100 years ago humans looked way different then we do now.

mastermarkus avatar
Master Markus
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I hope you're joking, (but it's hard to tell over the internet) because humans have looked pretty much the same as we do now since ancient history barring changes due to hygiene and nutrition.

Load More Replies...
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