1920’s photographs. The 1920’s was a great time for photography. So many events were happening including exciting developments in archaeology, aviation and, of course, the silver screen.
There was an emergence of “Real photograph” postcards, often depicting film stars from the silent movies and socialites. Below are some examples of photographs from the 1920’s including photographs of stage performers, travel photographs and automobile photographs.
This is a page from a photograph album containing views of Egypt and the Middle East. Subjects also include Rev. Hughes fishing and a photo of a shark that has been caught and brought into the gated yard of a house. One photo shows a market stall, and another a procession including a camel. There are two photographs of the family at a beach hut.
© The Trustees of the British Museum
ANDRÉ KERTÉSZ (1894–1985) This gelatin print by Andre Kertesz ERTÉSZ shows the lunchtime rush hour in Paris. It was taken in 1922. The print sold for USD 10,000 at Christie’s in 2019
![[DANCE] KARASAVINA, THAMAR [aka TAMARA].](https://antiquevintageprints.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/1920s-photograph-tamara.jpg)
Photographs of stage performers were popular during the 1920’s. This photograph is a signed black and white photograph depicting Karasavina mid-length in costume. It is inscribed across the image “For Harold Smith/Sincerely/Thamara Karasavina/2.12.24/Milwaukee”, her name is also printed in the negative. Minor handling wear, fine overall. A rare early signed photograph of Karasavina, a Russian prima ballerina who was a principal artist of the Imperial Russian Ballet and later of the Ballets Russes. It sold for $1,062 (including buyer’s premium) at Doyle in 2020
Photography was also found more frequently in magazines and sales catalogues. This dealer album for cars Includes 46 professional photographs, some referencing model name and price on the rear
It sold for CA$700 at Miller & Miller Auctions Ltd in 2020
Photography opened up a whole new world for travellers. Travel photographs were popular for those who could afford to travel back in the 1920’s
This is a large collection of over 260 photographs, all or most of which appear to have been taken by the same French photographer, travelling in Lebanon, with some views in the Holy Land (mostly Jerusalem), Egypt and Turkey.
The album sold for 1,500 GBP at Sotheby’s in 2018
Color photograpy was available but it was very expensive. This is an example of a hand colored card mounted tinted photograph of a boy wearing blue gingham waders, paddling in the sea holding a sailing boat taken on the south coast of England, by Remington’s Photo Service (A.H. Remington), 1920-39.
It is held in the Victoria and Albert Museum
Reference: © Victoria and Albert Museum
