These old color photos courtesy of the autochrome process may date to the early 1900s, but they don’t look it one bit.
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44 Stunning Color Photos Of The World’s Cultures 100 Years Ago
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1 of 45Christina, the daughter of Autochrome photographer Mervyn O’Gorman, poses in a red cloak in order to be photographed by her father. Dorset, England. 1913.The Royal Photographic Society Collection/National Science and Media Museum/SSPL/Getty Images
2 of 45The daughter of Autochrome photographer Etheldreda Janet Laing poses in a kimono in order to be photographed by her mother. England. 1908.SSPL/Getty Images 3 of 45A little girl plays with her doll next to two guns and a knapsack in Reims, France during World War I. 1917. Galerie Bilderwelt/Getty Images 4 of 45Two men play chess in Hoboken, N.J. 1907.Alfred Stieglitz/Wikimedia Commons 5 of 45Christina sits beside a boat. 1913.The Royal Photographic Society Collection/National Science and Media Museum/SSPL/Getty Images
6 of 45Two women sit on a bench. Location unspecified. Circa 1915.George Eastman Museum/Flickr 7 of 45Christina poses with a purple Buddleia flower. 1915.The Royal Photographic Society Collection/National Science and Media Museum/SSPL/Getty Images 8 of 45A woman with tattooed arms poses in Bosnia. 1912.Musée Albert-Kahn 9 of 45Christina sits on the beach. 1913.The Royal Photographic Society Collection/National Science and Media Museum/SSPL/Getty Images
10 of 45French soldiers prepare lunch outdoors. Circa 1910.adoc-photos/Corbis via Getty Images 11 of 45Children pose in costume during World War I. France. 1914.adoc-photos/Corbis via Getty Images 12 of 45A little girl in a red riding hood poses near some flowers. England. 1907.The Royal Photographic Society Collection/National Science and Media Museum/SSPL/Getty Images 13 of 45Christina walks on the beach. 1913.The Royal Photographic Society Collection/National Science and Media Museum/SSPL/Getty Images
14 of 45Three little girls sit on the terrace next to Kastel Fortress in Bosnia. 1912.Musée Albert-Kahn 15 of 45Else Paneth (left), the wife of Austrian chemist and photographer Friedrich Paneth, sits on a camel in Egypt. 1913.The Royal Photographic Society Collection/National Science and Media Museum/SSPL/Getty Images 16 of 45"Mother and Child." Location unspecified. Circa 1910.National Science and Media Museum/Flickr 17 of 45Children play in the ruins of Reims, France during World War I. 1917.Wikimedia Commons 18 of 45Constantin Mitrofanovitch Flórinsky, officer of Tsar Nicholas II of Russia. 1907.The Metropolitan Museum of Art 19 of 45"The Last Digger." United Kingdom. 1910.The Royal Photographic Society Collection/National Science and Media Museum/SSPL/Getty Images 20 of 45Two couples of tennis players sit on a bench in France. Circa 1912.Photographic Heritage/Flickr 21 of 45A local stands next to a cart in Cairo, Egypt. 1914.Musée Albert-Kahn 22 of 45Photographer Frank Eugene poses for an Autochrome in Hoboken, N.J. 1907.Alfred Stieglitz/The Metropolitan Museum of Art 23 of 45The daughter of photographer Frank Eugene poses with photographer Alfred Stieglitz. Location unspecified. 1907.The Metropolitan Museum of Art 24 of 45Emmy (left), the daughter of Autochrome photographer Frank Eugene. Tutzing, Bavaria. 1907.Frank Eugene/The Metropolitan Museum of Art 25 of 45Selma Schubart, the sister of photographer Alfred Stieglitz. Hoboken, N.J. 1907.Alfred Stieglitz/The Metropolitan Museum of Art 26 of 45Katherine Stieglitz, the daughter of photographer Alfred Stieglitz. Location unspecified. 1910.Wikimedia Commons 27 of 45A family poses for an Autochrome outdoors. Location unspecified. Circa 1915.George Eastman Museum/Flickr 28 of 45A gardener holds tomatoes in his apron. United Kingdom. 1905.SSPL/Getty Images 29 of 45Tamara Karasavina, a leading dancer in the Russian ballet, poses next to some flowers. Location unspecified. Circa 1908.Adolf de Meyer/The Metropolitan Museum Of Art 30 of 45An Italian rifleman poses in Verona, Italy. 1918.Musée Albert-Kahn 31 of 45A family stands on the beach in Margate, England. 1915. Royal Photographic Society Collection/National Science and Media Museum/SSPL/Getty Images 32 of 45A man drives a British-made Lanchester automobile. Location unspecified. 1913.National Motor Museum/Heritage Images/Getty Images 33 of 45Two girls sit in a field. England. 1908.SSPL/Getty Images 34 of 45A condemned prisoner stands in chains in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. 1913.Wikimedia Commons 35 of 45The Moulin Rouge. Paris. 1914.Wikimedia Commons 36 of 45A woman identified Olga Victorovna Dmitrieff sits outdoors on a bench. Russia. 1907.The Metropolitan Museum of Art 37 of 45The daughters of Autochrome photographer Etheldreda Janet Laing pose on a balcony. England. 1908.SSPL/Getty Images 38 of 45A group of Serbian women sit in a market square. 1913.Musée Albert-Kahn 39 of 45The daughter of photographer Etheldreda Janet Laing sits with a parasol sitting by a flower bed. England. 1908.SSPL/Getty Images 40 of 45Porte Saint-Denis. Paris. 1914.Wikimedia Commons 41 of 45An unidentified man poses in a red sweater. Hoboken, N.J. 1907.The Metropolitan Museum of Art 42 of 45Russian soldiers pose amid the ruins at Reims, France during World War I. 1917.Wikimedia Commons 43 of 45A young girl, presumably one of the daughters of photographer Etheldreda Janet Laing, poses near some flowers. England. 1910.SSPL/Getty Images 44 of 45A girl poses in traditional dress in Madeira, Portugal. 1910.Wikimedia Commons 45 of 45Like this gallery?Share it:
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44 Old Color Photos Made With Autochrome That Remain Stunning A Century Later View Gallery
Long before digital photos and even Kodachrome color film, the Autochrome process helped bring color to the world of photography. Patented by brothers Auguste and Louis Lumière of France in 1907, Autochrome was history’s first commercially successful color photography process.
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44 Stunning Color Photos Of The World’s Cultures 100 Years Ago
31 Imperial Russia Photos That Reveal History In Stunning Color
These 77 Images Are Some Of The World’s First Color Photos
1 of 45Christina, the daughter of Autochrome photographer Mervyn O’Gorman, poses in a red cloak in order to be photographed by her father. Dorset, England. 1913.The Royal Photographic Society Collection/National Science and Media Museum/SSPL/Getty Images
2 of 45The daughter of Autochrome photographer Etheldreda Janet Laing poses in a kimono in order to be photographed by her mother. England. 1908.SSPL/Getty Images 3 of 45A little girl plays with her doll next to two guns and a knapsack in Reims, France during World War I. 1917. Galerie Bilderwelt/Getty Images 4 of 45Two men play chess in Hoboken, N.J. 1907.Alfred Stieglitz/Wikimedia Commons 5 of 45Christina sits beside a boat. 1913.The Royal Photographic Society Collection/National Science and Media Museum/SSPL/Getty Images
6 of 45Two women sit on a bench. Location unspecified. Circa 1915.George Eastman Museum/Flickr 7 of 45Christina poses with a purple Buddleia flower. 1915.The Royal Photographic Society Collection/National Science and Media Museum/SSPL/Getty Images 8 of 45A woman with tattooed arms poses in Bosnia. 1912.Musée Albert-Kahn 9 of 45Christina sits on the beach. 1913.The Royal Photographic Society Collection/National Science and Media Museum/SSPL/Getty Images
10 of 45French soldiers prepare lunch outdoors. Circa 1910.adoc-photos/Corbis via Getty Images 11 of 45Children pose in costume during World War I. France. 1914.adoc-photos/Corbis via Getty Images 12 of 45A little girl in a red riding hood poses near some flowers. England. 1907.The Royal Photographic Society Collection/National Science and Media Museum/SSPL/Getty Images 13 of 45Christina walks on the beach. 1913.The Royal Photographic Society Collection/National Science and Media Museum/SSPL/Getty Images
14 of 45Three little girls sit on the terrace next to Kastel Fortress in Bosnia. 1912.Musée Albert-Kahn 15 of 45Else Paneth (left), the wife of Austrian chemist and photographer Friedrich Paneth, sits on a camel in Egypt. 1913.The Royal Photographic Society Collection/National Science and Media Museum/SSPL/Getty Images 16 of 45"Mother and Child." Location unspecified. Circa 1910.National Science and Media Museum/Flickr 17 of 45Children play in the ruins of Reims, France during World War I. 1917.Wikimedia Commons 18 of 45Constantin Mitrofanovitch Flórinsky, officer of Tsar Nicholas II of Russia. 1907.The Metropolitan Museum of Art 19 of 45"The Last Digger." United Kingdom. 1910.The Royal Photographic Society Collection/National Science and Media Museum/SSPL/Getty Images 20 of 45Two couples of tennis players sit on a bench in France. Circa 1912.Photographic Heritage/Flickr 21 of 45A local stands next to a cart in Cairo, Egypt. 1914.Musée Albert-Kahn 22 of 45Photographer Frank Eugene poses for an Autochrome in Hoboken, N.J. 1907.Alfred Stieglitz/The Metropolitan Museum of Art 23 of 45The daughter of photographer Frank Eugene poses with photographer Alfred Stieglitz. Location unspecified. 1907.The Metropolitan Museum of Art 24 of 45Emmy (left), the daughter of Autochrome photographer Frank Eugene. Tutzing, Bavaria. 1907.Frank Eugene/The Metropolitan Museum of Art 25 of 45Selma Schubart, the sister of photographer Alfred Stieglitz. Hoboken, N.J. 1907.Alfred Stieglitz/The Metropolitan Museum of Art 26 of 45Katherine Stieglitz, the daughter of photographer Alfred Stieglitz. Location unspecified. 1910.Wikimedia Commons 27 of 45A family poses for an Autochrome outdoors. Location unspecified. Circa 1915.George Eastman Museum/Flickr 28 of 45A gardener holds tomatoes in his apron. United Kingdom. 1905.SSPL/Getty Images 29 of 45Tamara Karasavina, a leading dancer in the Russian ballet, poses next to some flowers. Location unspecified. Circa 1908.Adolf de Meyer/The Metropolitan Museum Of Art 30 of 45An Italian rifleman poses in Verona, Italy. 1918.Musée Albert-Kahn 31 of 45A family stands on the beach in Margate, England. 1915. Royal Photographic Society Collection/National Science and Media Museum/SSPL/Getty Images 32 of 45A man drives a British-made Lanchester automobile. Location unspecified. 1913.National Motor Museum/Heritage Images/Getty Images 33 of 45Two girls sit in a field. England. 1908.SSPL/Getty Images 34 of 45A condemned prisoner stands in chains in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. 1913.Wikimedia Commons 35 of 45The Moulin Rouge. Paris. 1914.Wikimedia Commons 36 of 45A woman identified Olga Victorovna Dmitrieff sits outdoors on a bench. Russia. 1907.The Metropolitan Museum of Art 37 of 45The daughters of Autochrome photographer Etheldreda Janet Laing pose on a balcony. England. 1908.SSPL/Getty Images 38 of 45A group of Serbian women sit in a market square. 1913.Musée Albert-Kahn 39 of 45The daughter of photographer Etheldreda Janet Laing sits with a parasol sitting by a flower bed. England. 1908.SSPL/Getty Images 40 of 45Porte Saint-Denis. Paris. 1914.Wikimedia Commons 41 of 45An unidentified man poses in a red sweater. Hoboken, N.J. 1907.The Metropolitan Museum of Art 42 of 45Russian soldiers pose amid the ruins at Reims, France during World War I. 1917.Wikimedia Commons 43 of 45A young girl, presumably one of the daughters of photographer Etheldreda Janet Laing, poses near some flowers. England. 1910.SSPL/Getty Images 44 of 45A girl poses in traditional dress in Madeira, Portugal. 1910.Wikimedia Commons 45 of 45Like this gallery?Share it:
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And if you liked this post, be sure to check out these popular posts:
44 Stunning Color Photos Of The World’s Cultures 100 Years Ago
31 Imperial Russia Photos That Reveal History In Stunning Color
These 77 Images Are Some Of The World’s First Color Photos
1 of 45Christina, the daughter of Autochrome photographer Mervyn O’Gorman, poses in a red cloak in order to be photographed by her father. Dorset, England. 1913.The Royal Photographic Society Collection/National Science and Media Museum/SSPL/Getty Images
2 of 45The daughter of Autochrome photographer Etheldreda Janet Laing poses in a kimono in order to be photographed by her mother. England. 1908.SSPL/Getty Images 3 of 45A little girl plays with her doll next to two guns and a knapsack in Reims, France during World War I. 1917. Galerie Bilderwelt/Getty Images 4 of 45Two men play chess in Hoboken, N.J. 1907.Alfred Stieglitz/Wikimedia Commons 5 of 45Christina sits beside a boat. 1913.The Royal Photographic Society Collection/National Science and Media Museum/SSPL/Getty Images
6 of 45Two women sit on a bench. Location unspecified. Circa 1915.George Eastman Museum/Flickr 7 of 45Christina poses with a purple Buddleia flower. 1915.The Royal Photographic Society Collection/National Science and Media Museum/SSPL/Getty Images 8 of 45A woman with tattooed arms poses in Bosnia. 1912.Musée Albert-Kahn 9 of 45Christina sits on the beach. 1913.The Royal Photographic Society Collection/National Science and Media Museum/SSPL/Getty Images
10 of 45French soldiers prepare lunch outdoors. Circa 1910.adoc-photos/Corbis via Getty Images 11 of 45Children pose in costume during World War I. France. 1914.adoc-photos/Corbis via Getty Images 12 of 45A little girl in a red riding hood poses near some flowers. England. 1907.The Royal Photographic Society Collection/National Science and Media Museum/SSPL/Getty Images 13 of 45Christina walks on the beach. 1913.The Royal Photographic Society Collection/National Science and Media Museum/SSPL/Getty Images
14 of 45Three little girls sit on the terrace next to Kastel Fortress in Bosnia. 1912.Musée Albert-Kahn 15 of 45Else Paneth (left), the wife of Austrian chemist and photographer Friedrich Paneth, sits on a camel in Egypt. 1913.The Royal Photographic Society Collection/National Science and Media Museum/SSPL/Getty Images 16 of 45"Mother and Child." Location unspecified. Circa 1910.National Science and Media Museum/Flickr 17 of 45Children play in the ruins of Reims, France during World War I. 1917.Wikimedia Commons 18 of 45Constantin Mitrofanovitch Flórinsky, officer of Tsar Nicholas II of Russia. 1907.The Metropolitan Museum of Art 19 of 45"The Last Digger." United Kingdom. 1910.The Royal Photographic Society Collection/National Science and Media Museum/SSPL/Getty Images 20 of 45Two couples of tennis players sit on a bench in France. Circa 1912.Photographic Heritage/Flickr 21 of 45A local stands next to a cart in Cairo, Egypt. 1914.Musée Albert-Kahn 22 of 45Photographer Frank Eugene poses for an Autochrome in Hoboken, N.J. 1907.Alfred Stieglitz/The Metropolitan Museum of Art 23 of 45The daughter of photographer Frank Eugene poses with photographer Alfred Stieglitz. Location unspecified. 1907.The Metropolitan Museum of Art 24 of 45Emmy (left), the daughter of Autochrome photographer Frank Eugene. Tutzing, Bavaria. 1907.Frank Eugene/The Metropolitan Museum of Art 25 of 45Selma Schubart, the sister of photographer Alfred Stieglitz. Hoboken, N.J. 1907.Alfred Stieglitz/The Metropolitan Museum of Art 26 of 45Katherine Stieglitz, the daughter of photographer Alfred Stieglitz. Location unspecified. 1910.Wikimedia Commons 27 of 45A family poses for an Autochrome outdoors. Location unspecified. Circa 1915.George Eastman Museum/Flickr 28 of 45A gardener holds tomatoes in his apron. United Kingdom. 1905.SSPL/Getty Images 29 of 45Tamara Karasavina, a leading dancer in the Russian ballet, poses next to some flowers. Location unspecified. Circa 1908.Adolf de Meyer/The Metropolitan Museum Of Art 30 of 45An Italian rifleman poses in Verona, Italy. 1918.Musée Albert-Kahn 31 of 45A family stands on the beach in Margate, England. 1915. Royal Photographic Society Collection/National Science and Media Museum/SSPL/Getty Images 32 of 45A man drives a British-made Lanchester automobile. Location unspecified. 1913.National Motor Museum/Heritage Images/Getty Images 33 of 45Two girls sit in a field. England. 1908.SSPL/Getty Images 34 of 45A condemned prisoner stands in chains in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. 1913.Wikimedia Commons 35 of 45The Moulin Rouge. Paris. 1914.Wikimedia Commons 36 of 45A woman identified Olga Victorovna Dmitrieff sits outdoors on a bench. Russia. 1907.The Metropolitan Museum of Art 37 of 45The daughters of Autochrome photographer Etheldreda Janet Laing pose on a balcony. England. 1908.SSPL/Getty Images 38 of 45A group of Serbian women sit in a market square. 1913.Musée Albert-Kahn 39 of 45The daughter of photographer Etheldreda Janet Laing sits with a parasol sitting by a flower bed. England. 1908.SSPL/Getty Images 40 of 45Porte Saint-Denis. Paris. 1914.Wikimedia Commons 41 of 45An unidentified man poses in a red sweater. Hoboken, N.J. 1907.The Metropolitan Museum of Art 42 of 45Russian soldiers pose amid the ruins at Reims, France during World War I. 1917.Wikimedia Commons 43 of 45A young girl, presumably one of the daughters of photographer Etheldreda Janet Laing, poses near some flowers. England. 1910.SSPL/Getty Images 44 of 45A girl poses in traditional dress in Madeira, Portugal. 1910.Wikimedia Commons 45 of 45Like this gallery?Share it:
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And if you liked this post, be sure to check out these popular posts:
44 Stunning Color Photos Of The World’s Cultures 100 Years Ago
31 Imperial Russia Photos That Reveal History In Stunning Color
These 77 Images Are Some Of The World’s First Color Photos
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1 of 45Christina, the daughter of Autochrome photographer Mervyn O’Gorman, poses in a red cloak in order to be photographed by her father. Dorset, England. 1913.The Royal Photographic Society Collection/National Science and Media Museum/SSPL/Getty Images
2 of 45The daughter of Autochrome photographer Etheldreda Janet Laing poses in a kimono in order to be photographed by her mother. England. 1908.SSPL/Getty Images 3 of 45A little girl plays with her doll next to two guns and a knapsack in Reims, France during World War I. 1917. Galerie Bilderwelt/Getty Images 4 of 45Two men play chess in Hoboken, N.J. 1907.Alfred Stieglitz/Wikimedia Commons 5 of 45Christina sits beside a boat. 1913.The Royal Photographic Society Collection/National Science and Media Museum/SSPL/Getty Images
6 of 45Two women sit on a bench. Location unspecified. Circa 1915.George Eastman Museum/Flickr 7 of 45Christina poses with a purple Buddleia flower. 1915.The Royal Photographic Society Collection/National Science and Media Museum/SSPL/Getty Images 8 of 45A woman with tattooed arms poses in Bosnia. 1912.Musée Albert-Kahn 9 of 45Christina sits on the beach. 1913.The Royal Photographic Society Collection/National Science and Media Museum/SSPL/Getty Images
10 of 45French soldiers prepare lunch outdoors. Circa 1910.adoc-photos/Corbis via Getty Images 11 of 45Children pose in costume during World War I. France. 1914.adoc-photos/Corbis via Getty Images 12 of 45A little girl in a red riding hood poses near some flowers. England. 1907.The Royal Photographic Society Collection/National Science and Media Museum/SSPL/Getty Images 13 of 45Christina walks on the beach. 1913.The Royal Photographic Society Collection/National Science and Media Museum/SSPL/Getty Images
14 of 45Three little girls sit on the terrace next to Kastel Fortress in Bosnia. 1912.Musée Albert-Kahn 15 of 45Else Paneth (left), the wife of Austrian chemist and photographer Friedrich Paneth, sits on a camel in Egypt. 1913.The Royal Photographic Society Collection/National Science and Media Museum/SSPL/Getty Images 16 of 45"Mother and Child." Location unspecified. Circa 1910.National Science and Media Museum/Flickr 17 of 45Children play in the ruins of Reims, France during World War I. 1917.Wikimedia Commons 18 of 45Constantin Mitrofanovitch Flórinsky, officer of Tsar Nicholas II of Russia. 1907.The Metropolitan Museum of Art 19 of 45"The Last Digger." United Kingdom. 1910.The Royal Photographic Society Collection/National Science and Media Museum/SSPL/Getty Images 20 of 45Two couples of tennis players sit on a bench in France. Circa 1912.Photographic Heritage/Flickr 21 of 45A local stands next to a cart in Cairo, Egypt. 1914.Musée Albert-Kahn 22 of 45Photographer Frank Eugene poses for an Autochrome in Hoboken, N.J. 1907.Alfred Stieglitz/The Metropolitan Museum of Art 23 of 45The daughter of photographer Frank Eugene poses with photographer Alfred Stieglitz. Location unspecified. 1907.The Metropolitan Museum of Art 24 of 45Emmy (left), the daughter of Autochrome photographer Frank Eugene. Tutzing, Bavaria. 1907.Frank Eugene/The Metropolitan Museum of Art 25 of 45Selma Schubart, the sister of photographer Alfred Stieglitz. Hoboken, N.J. 1907.Alfred Stieglitz/The Metropolitan Museum of Art 26 of 45Katherine Stieglitz, the daughter of photographer Alfred Stieglitz. Location unspecified. 1910.Wikimedia Commons 27 of 45A family poses for an Autochrome outdoors. Location unspecified. Circa 1915.George Eastman Museum/Flickr 28 of 45A gardener holds tomatoes in his apron. United Kingdom. 1905.SSPL/Getty Images 29 of 45Tamara Karasavina, a leading dancer in the Russian ballet, poses next to some flowers. Location unspecified. Circa 1908.Adolf de Meyer/The Metropolitan Museum Of Art 30 of 45An Italian rifleman poses in Verona, Italy. 1918.Musée Albert-Kahn 31 of 45A family stands on the beach in Margate, England. 1915. Royal Photographic Society Collection/National Science and Media Museum/SSPL/Getty Images 32 of 45A man drives a British-made Lanchester automobile. Location unspecified. 1913.National Motor Museum/Heritage Images/Getty Images 33 of 45Two girls sit in a field. England. 1908.SSPL/Getty Images 34 of 45A condemned prisoner stands in chains in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. 1913.Wikimedia Commons 35 of 45The Moulin Rouge. Paris. 1914.Wikimedia Commons 36 of 45A woman identified Olga Victorovna Dmitrieff sits outdoors on a bench. Russia. 1907.The Metropolitan Museum of Art 37 of 45The daughters of Autochrome photographer Etheldreda Janet Laing pose on a balcony. England. 1908.SSPL/Getty Images 38 of 45A group of Serbian women sit in a market square. 1913.Musée Albert-Kahn 39 of 45The daughter of photographer Etheldreda Janet Laing sits with a parasol sitting by a flower bed. England. 1908.SSPL/Getty Images 40 of 45Porte Saint-Denis. Paris. 1914.Wikimedia Commons 41 of 45An unidentified man poses in a red sweater. Hoboken, N.J. 1907.The Metropolitan Museum of Art 42 of 45Russian soldiers pose amid the ruins at Reims, France during World War I. 1917.Wikimedia Commons 43 of 45A young girl, presumably one of the daughters of photographer Etheldreda Janet Laing, poses near some flowers. England. 1910.SSPL/Getty Images 44 of 45A girl poses in traditional dress in Madeira, Portugal. 1910.Wikimedia Commons 45 of 45Like this gallery?Share it:
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1 of 45Christina, the daughter of Autochrome photographer Mervyn O’Gorman, poses in a red cloak in order to be photographed by her father. Dorset, England. 1913.The Royal Photographic Society Collection/National Science and Media Museum/SSPL/Getty Images
2 of 45The daughter of Autochrome photographer Etheldreda Janet Laing poses in a kimono in order to be photographed by her mother. England. 1908.SSPL/Getty Images
3 of 45A little girl plays with her doll next to two guns and a knapsack in Reims, France during World War I. 1917. Galerie Bilderwelt/Getty Images
4 of 45Two men play chess in Hoboken, N.J. 1907.Alfred Stieglitz/Wikimedia Commons
5 of 45Christina sits beside a boat. 1913.The Royal Photographic Society Collection/National Science and Media Museum/SSPL/Getty Images
6 of 45Two women sit on a bench. Location unspecified. Circa 1915.George Eastman Museum/Flickr
7 of 45Christina poses with a purple Buddleia flower. 1915.The Royal Photographic Society Collection/National Science and Media Museum/SSPL/Getty Images
8 of 45A woman with tattooed arms poses in Bosnia. 1912.Musée Albert-Kahn
9 of 45Christina sits on the beach. 1913.The Royal Photographic Society Collection/National Science and Media Museum/SSPL/Getty Images
10 of 45French soldiers prepare lunch outdoors. Circa 1910.adoc-photos/Corbis via Getty Images
11 of 45Children pose in costume during World War I. France. 1914.adoc-photos/Corbis via Getty Images
12 of 45A little girl in a red riding hood poses near some flowers. England. 1907.The Royal Photographic Society Collection/National Science and Media Museum/SSPL/Getty Images
13 of 45Christina walks on the beach. 1913.The Royal Photographic Society Collection/National Science and Media Museum/SSPL/Getty Images
14 of 45Three little girls sit on the terrace next to Kastel Fortress in Bosnia. 1912.Musée Albert-Kahn
15 of 45Else Paneth (left), the wife of Austrian chemist and photographer Friedrich Paneth, sits on a camel in Egypt. 1913.The Royal Photographic Society Collection/National Science and Media Museum/SSPL/Getty Images
16 of 45"Mother and Child." Location unspecified. Circa 1910.National Science and Media Museum/Flickr
17 of 45Children play in the ruins of Reims, France during World War I. 1917.Wikimedia Commons
18 of 45Constantin Mitrofanovitch Flórinsky, officer of Tsar Nicholas II of Russia. 1907.The Metropolitan Museum of Art
19 of 45"The Last Digger." United Kingdom. 1910.The Royal Photographic Society Collection/National Science and Media Museum/SSPL/Getty Images
20 of 45Two couples of tennis players sit on a bench in France. Circa 1912.Photographic Heritage/Flickr
21 of 45A local stands next to a cart in Cairo, Egypt. 1914.Musée Albert-Kahn
22 of 45Photographer Frank Eugene poses for an Autochrome in Hoboken, N.J. 1907.Alfred Stieglitz/The Metropolitan Museum of Art
23 of 45The daughter of photographer Frank Eugene poses with photographer Alfred Stieglitz. Location unspecified. 1907.The Metropolitan Museum of Art
24 of 45Emmy (left), the daughter of Autochrome photographer Frank Eugene. Tutzing, Bavaria. 1907.Frank Eugene/The Metropolitan Museum of Art
25 of 45Selma Schubart, the sister of photographer Alfred Stieglitz. Hoboken, N.J. 1907.Alfred Stieglitz/The Metropolitan Museum of Art
26 of 45Katherine Stieglitz, the daughter of photographer Alfred Stieglitz. Location unspecified. 1910.Wikimedia Commons
27 of 45A family poses for an Autochrome outdoors. Location unspecified. Circa 1915.George Eastman Museum/Flickr
28 of 45A gardener holds tomatoes in his apron. United Kingdom. 1905.SSPL/Getty Images
29 of 45Tamara Karasavina, a leading dancer in the Russian ballet, poses next to some flowers. Location unspecified. Circa 1908.Adolf de Meyer/The Metropolitan Museum Of Art
30 of 45An Italian rifleman poses in Verona, Italy. 1918.Musée Albert-Kahn
31 of 45A family stands on the beach in Margate, England. 1915. Royal Photographic Society Collection/National Science and Media Museum/SSPL/Getty Images
32 of 45A man drives a British-made Lanchester automobile. Location unspecified. 1913.National Motor Museum/Heritage Images/Getty Images
33 of 45Two girls sit in a field. England. 1908.SSPL/Getty Images
34 of 45A condemned prisoner stands in chains in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. 1913.Wikimedia Commons
35 of 45The Moulin Rouge. Paris. 1914.Wikimedia Commons
36 of 45A woman identified Olga Victorovna Dmitrieff sits outdoors on a bench. Russia. 1907.The Metropolitan Museum of Art
37 of 45The daughters of Autochrome photographer Etheldreda Janet Laing pose on a balcony. England. 1908.SSPL/Getty Images
38 of 45A group of Serbian women sit in a market square. 1913.Musée Albert-Kahn
39 of 45The daughter of photographer Etheldreda Janet Laing sits with a parasol sitting by a flower bed. England. 1908.SSPL/Getty Images
40 of 45Porte Saint-Denis. Paris. 1914.Wikimedia Commons
41 of 45An unidentified man poses in a red sweater. Hoboken, N.J. 1907.The Metropolitan Museum of Art
42 of 45Russian soldiers pose amid the ruins at Reims, France during World War I. 1917.Wikimedia Commons
43 of 45A young girl, presumably one of the daughters of photographer Etheldreda Janet Laing, poses near some flowers. England. 1910.SSPL/Getty Images
44 of 45A girl poses in traditional dress in Madeira, Portugal. 1910.Wikimedia Commons
45 of 45Like this gallery?Share it:
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44 Old Color Photos Made With Autochrome That Remain Stunning A Century Later View Gallery
44 Old Color Photos Made With Autochrome That Remain Stunning A Century Later View Gallery
44 Old Color Photos Made With Autochrome That Remain Stunning A Century Later View Gallery
44 Old Color Photos Made With Autochrome That Remain Stunning A Century Later View Gallery
44 Old Color Photos Made With Autochrome That Remain Stunning A Century Later
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Even today, it’s hard to believe your eyes when you see Autochromes taken more than a century ago. These old color photos just look so… alive.
The complicated, revolutionary process responsible for these images involved glass plates, soot, and even potato starch. In short, light passed through tiny grains of potato starch that had been dyed in various colors in order to impart those colors onto the image.
And although this process was effective, it was very slow. Long exposure times meant subjects needed to stay very still in order to prevent blurring. But even with some blur, the effect was marvelous.
The softness of motion paired with the subtle palettes made these old color photos resemble paintings. Aside from the aesthetic benefits, Autochrome images allowed photojournalists and documentarians to explore new realms of realism.
In the words of Adrian Coakley, photo editor for National Geographic:
Nevertheless, the popularity of Autochrome lasted only about 30 years until Kodachrome was popularized. The new film paired with a 35mm camera was lighter to travel with and much easier to use.
However, some photographers were slow to abandon Autochrome simply because they didn’t want to lose the misty beauty that it provided.
See some of the most stunning Autochrome images as well as some other of history’s earliest color photos in the gallery above.
After this look at old color photos taken using Autochrome, see some of the most incredible images of World War 2 in color. Then, check out these popular interesting photos from all around the world.
