Pinecones and Roses

Wednesday, July 27, 2011

Family Photo

Do old photographs intrigue you as much as they do me?  I found two copies of this old photo the other day at a garage sale.  I love to study the body language of the people and the faces and clothes as well as the old homes. 

There doesn't seem to be too much body language in this, everybody is standing apart, which I suppose it's saying something, too.  The tiny little boy is cuddled up to his sister.  I love the little boy in the foreground with the cute hat.  Everybody seems to be wearing their Sunday best and mama looks very tired.  She's sitting on a chair, I wonder what she's holding - probably a Bible, don't you think?  The tall son looks a bit like a young JFK.  All the girls are wearing flowers except mama - she's wearing black.  Maybe they're all going to a funeral and mama is holding a picture of the loved one. 

What do you see in this?                               Diane

9 comments:

Betsy Banks Adams said...

How interesting... Too Bad that some family somewhere didn't hold onto this family photo. Makes me wonder who that family is --and where are their relatives now??? Was there anything written on the back? Did anyone know anything at the garage sale???? It does look like the wife may be holding a photo--maybe her hubby.. It does look like a funeral.

Thanks for sharing.
Hugs,
Betsy

Pondside said...

Nine children - I'm sure that Mama is very tired. It strikes me that someone has died because the boys are wearing ties and the father is looking so very sad, as opposed to dignified.

Tammy@T's Daily Treasures said...

Despite the sadness, it is a beautiful photo. Looks like they've been to wherever they were going or are headed out. It does make you wonder. Have a good day. Tammy

Jane the Booklady said...

I love working out the clues in old photos too. I'm not sure about social nuances in the U.S.A. but I don't think somebody has just died, or else the whole family would have been wearing mourning. Perhaps it was an Anniversary? I prefer to think of it as a posh Sunday photograph to mark one of the older boys going off to College, so he has a keep-sake of his family... and Mama is holding the Bible in the hope that he gets the hint to read it whilst he's away from her guiding influence! Help, my imagination has run away with me... better stop now before I invent their whole life stories! Jane x

polkadotpeticoat said...

I always wish someone had told these nice folks a joke...so maybe they could smile...they always look so angry!

The French Bear said...

I think Mama had the same look as my Mom, okay so child number ten is coming......another baby! Hahahaa.....except my Mom always looked thrilled, she and my Dad planned on all ten children...but it does make you wonder, especially the standing so far apart!!
That is a great picture though!
Hugs,
Mags
xx

Laurie said...

My comment was the same as Pondside. It looks by the ages of her nine children that she was always pregnant. No wonder she's tired! I think it was probably a funeral also, I'm surprised too, that this picture left its family. So much forgotten history.

Miss Gracie's House said...

Old photos are my most favorite too...this one is extra good with the old house in the background...I think the curtains in the windows are so pretty and the young girls with the HUGE hairbows...they make me smile everytime...just wish they would have smiled some..
Rene

mudderbear said...

Oh my..you really do get into this picture. How interesting. I've never stopped to do much of that, but I am sure I will be doing more of it now. You get a lot out of one photograph. I will bet you taught school sometime in your life.