Friday 28 October 2011

A young couple


I imagine this must be a picture to mark a First Communion.  It is one of the many pictures taken by Belgian photographer, Norbert Ghisoland.  He was a miner's son, born in Frameries in 1878, who went on to become an "accidental anthropologist" by recording the social history of the time.

At one time studio photography was expensive enough to restrict it to the wealthy but techniques improved to reduce the costs and opened up opportunities to those of more modest means.  Ghisoland's aim was only to provide his clients with the pictures they wanted but the 45,000 (about half the number he originally took) of his negatives have left a great record of the times.

These pictures, found accidentally in the family attic by Ghisoland's grandson, have been the subject of several exhibitions in Belgium and around the world.

This is a post for Postcard Friendship Friday hosted on Beth Niquette's blog The Best Hearts are Crunchy.

10 comments:

  1. what a lovely photo and a great attic find!

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  2. They really went all out with the costumes, didn't they. What a treasure.

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  3. How wonderful to know the history behind this wonderful postcard! I loved this post.

    Happy PFF!

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  4. I agree with Christine - what a treasure!

    Happy PFF!

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  5. I love this card and what wonderful history about the photographer. I'm with you and it probably is a first communion. Happy PFF!

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  6. What an exciting find for his grandson.

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  7. Hi Sheila,

    How are you ? Didn't heard about you last week. Hope you're fine.
    This is a discovering and actually you made me think about old pictures I have seen like this that were transform in postcard to remind in the family. Very touching too.

    Happy PFF

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  8. A very impressive couple for sure. I love the way they are dressed.

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  9. I would love to discover something like this in an attic or basement. What fun to go through this kind of find. Unfortunately, in going through dozens of boxes and papers for my move, nothing appeared of any real interest or value!

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Welcome to my postcard collection! I love hearing what you think of the cards - but spam WILL be deleted.

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