Author Topic: Fashion, Bad Artist, or Short?  (Read 767 times)

Offline Uhnnohn

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Fashion, Bad Artist, or Short?
« on: Friday 15 September 23 16:20 BST (UK) »
Looking for opinions on this family
Do they look like they are shorter than average?

It could be at least 3 things:
- Their too-long suit coats were the fashion at the time (1905-10 ish?)
- The artist who penciled over the enlargement was terrible at body proportions
- They were possibly short

Pair of photos sold together from Indianapolis, IN (USA)
Since the sons (assumed) are in color, that was probably done at a later date.
Apologies if I have offended any shorter people.

Much work to do to get the corners of the frames restored

Offline loord74

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Re: Fashion, Bad Artist, or Short?
« Reply #1 on: Sunday 24 September 23 21:20 BST (UK) »
I think that (The artist who penciled over the enlargement was terrible at body proportions)

Offline Milliepede

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Re: Fashion, Bad Artist, or Short?
« Reply #2 on: Sunday 24 September 23 21:29 BST (UK) »
Her hand looks enormous! 
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Offline Uhnnohn

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Re: Fashion, Bad Artist, or Short?
« Reply #3 on: Sunday 24 September 23 22:00 BST (UK) »
I think that (The artist who penciled over the enlargement was terrible at body proportions)

Could be, but since the sons are in color, their image was at a later date, so perhaps not the same artist. That got me thinking they are shorter than normal.


Offline Uhnnohn

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Re: Fashion, Bad Artist, or Short?
« Reply #4 on: Sunday 24 September 23 22:02 BST (UK) »
Her hand looks enormous!

I see that often with Crayon Portraits. The artists were usually very experienced/skilled with faces, but when they occasionally did body parts, the oddness began.

Offline Treetotal

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Re: Fashion, Bad Artist, or Short?
« Reply #5 on: Sunday 24 September 23 23:04 BST (UK) »
In the first photo, their heads look wrong for their bodies as if they were added.
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Offline sparrett

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Re: Fashion, Bad Artist, or Short?
« Reply #6 on: Monday 25 September 23 01:10 BST (UK) »

My thoughts .
Maybe the photographer has tried to pose the older couple in a way to make the chap look taller.
I may imagine this, but the floor they stand on is sloping so he is up a bit of a hill to elevate him.

She stands a little forward of him and the weird foreshortening of his right upper arm suggests he is pushing the crook of the arm forward  not touching his chest.

Sue
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Offline Uhnnohn

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Re: Fashion, Bad Artist, or Short?
« Reply #7 on: Monday 25 September 23 01:42 BST (UK) »

My thoughts .
Maybe the photographer has tried to pose the older couple in a way to make the chap look taller.
I may imagine this, but the floor they stand on is sloping so he is up a bit of a hill to elevate him.

She stands a little forward of him and the weird foreshortening of his right upper arm suggests he is pushing the crook of the arm forward  not touching his chest.

Sue

It does seem to be an unusual pose

Offline jmagarac

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Re: Fashion, Bad Artist, or Short?
« Reply #8 on: Monday 25 September 23 02:11 BST (UK) »
Everything about that is odd. Her left hand is huge compared to her right hand (and purse)? What is going on there?