History is full of wonderful and interesting moments. Luckily, we have photography to thank for preserving small, unique moments that would otherwise have gotten lost in time. Something about photography makes us want to memorialize even the smallest or strangest of moments. Today, we’re looking at some delightful historical photographs that don’t make any sense through a modern lens. We’re exploring strange portraits, wacky inventions, and cultural moments that made sense at the time but lost their touch as the decades went on. Come with us as we explore historical photographs that don’t make any sense without a little context.
#1: Rock-A-Bye Baby
Photography wasn’t as commonplace in the early 20th century as it is today. Thanks to smartphones, we have professional-grade cameras in the palm of our hands! That wasn’t the case in 1910 when this strange photo was taken. Portraits were still expensive and quite a big deal for most people.
That’s what makes this photo so strange and delightful. The man in this photo spent his hard-earned money on an expensive portrait with a donkey. He’s holding the donkey like a little baby, which is appropriate, as “Rock-A-Bye-Baby” is written in the bottom right corner. Whether or not this photo was meant to be humorous has been lost to time.