Here we have an extremely rare look at a vibrant and candid moment of an African American gentleman in an outdoor setting, likely a street in Saint Paul, Minnesota. This gentleman has got it all! This type of street photography was definitely niche if not downright rare in this time period, resulting in an exceptionally rare and compelling artifact. The striking sepia-tone portrait captures an African American man wearing a distinguished hat and a warm, genuine smile. Talk about a moment in time! Unlike many formal studio portraits of the era, this image has an unposed, candid quality that suggests it was taken quickly on the street.
The candid, outdoor setting and relaxed subject matter make this a highly unusual and rare piece of historical ephemera for the time period. The photographic style is reminiscent of the work of early street photography pioneers like Harry Shepherd, who captured similar dynamic scenes of Black life in Saint Paul at the turn of the century. This photo offers a unique, unfiltered glimpse into the daily life of an individual in St. Paul's African American community a century ago. It is a wicked and powerful piece of visual history.
This one-of-a-kind piece would be an statement addition to any collection focused on African American history, Minnesota history, or the origins of street photography.
The antique photograph comes out of an old Minneapolis estate containing a large collection of rare and unusual photography from the turn of the century. This example is no exception. It was likely taken at the turn of the century.
The antique outdoor photograph measures 7” tall x 5” wide. The piece has plenty of surface patina from age. It also has a discoloration mark along the right edge. Please see all pics as they are part of the description.
I ship FedEx to street addresses in the continental USA only (no PO boxes). Free shipping on the rare antique photograph.
What a stunning historical image. This is one rare and important artifact from Minnesota.
