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A rare smile from the 19th century

19th century portraits rarely had smiles. This is partly because when photography was young exposures could take up to 45 minutes. A long time to sit still. And partly because smiling for a photo back then was thought to be undignified.


According to the Smithsonian her name is O‑o-be’.
She was a member of the Kiowa tribe in the Oklahoma Territory, and the photo was taken in 1894.
I love this portrait. Her smile makes me smile 🙂
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Sidewinder · 36-40, M
Morbidly fun fact: Most photographs back in the 19th and early 20th Century were photographs of the deceased, paired next to their living loved ones.

In those days, cameras didn't have a snap shutter, so the subject being photographed had to be perfectly still, which made the deceased the easiest to photograph.

Also in those days, photographing deceased family members next to living ones was a way for families to grieve.

@Sidewinder wow eerie and fascinating
JollyRoger · 70-79, M
@rinkydinkydoink So it seems! Customs of long ago allowing the living to look at the image and imagine the possiblities their deceased loved-one might have enjoyed. Bitter-sweet.
SwampFlower · 31-35, F
Aww. I buy a lot of silver jewelry from a sweet Kiowa lady.
wildfl0wer · 41-45, F
How lovely to see a smile in days where they were so barren. Makes me smile too.
Piper · 61-69, F
I really like the photo, too. She has a lovely and contagious sort of smile, I think. ☺
huh. I went to school fairly close to the town of kiowa. cool thing to find/have.
FreddieUK · 70-79, M
I agree - wonderful image to have come down to us.
I love it, too. Thank you.
DeWayfarer · 61-69, M
I have photos of my grand parents and their kids from before 1920 to the mid 1920s. In Czechoslovakia.

None of them are smiling though.
Notsimilarreally · 31-35, F
She's got a really sweet smile
Bumbles · 51-55, M
Makes her seem so contemporary. Thanks.
meggie · F
She really is lovely
Visit this site full of smiling Victorians and other people long gone --



@rinkydinkydoink looks interesting, I'll have to check that out. Thank you.
@rinkydinkydoink "Fall River" ? Isn’t that where Lizzie Borden lived ? 😳
@bijouxbroussard

By gum you're spot on! Are you into Lizzie Borden trivia?
metaldog · 51-55, F
She is beautiful ❤
@metaldog I think so too
Mr's grandad was Kiowa :)
@V00doo so your daughter has some Kiowa blood. Wow very cool.
@robingoodfellow Kiowa/Pawnee mix
This message was deleted by its author.
It IS great, and those garments are amazing in real life!
MrAlmostCrazy · 46-50, M
That's neat!! thanks for sharing ✌
She deserved that smile on her face.
metaldog · 51-55, F
Is that a tattoo on the big guy's neck??
@metaldog

Looks like it's either a hideous growth, a 3D tattoo or maybe it's a part of the building behind him?
metaldog · 51-55, F
@rinkydinkydoink oh yeah it's just the roof behind him 😆
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