#adorable couple

Whilst many Victorian gentlemen sitting for their studio portrait together chose the simplest expressions of affection - interlinked arms, or one hand upon the other’s knee - this pair are surprising in their uninhibited intimacy, tucked close as can be and embracing tightly, they ignore the photographer entirely and gaze instead into one another’s eyes, a warm smile on the face of the fellow looking down.

My, how this faintly colourised photograph amuses me! While the cheery chap on the left shows veritable confidence, almost a satisfied pride, in his unashamed and extravagent fondness for his friend, the other gentleman (with most excellent hair) has an air of deadpan tolerance, with just the slightest hint of irritability. “Oh, must you? How tiresome.”

Oh goodness, this is so beautiful! With remarkable clarity for being in excess of a century old, this photograph perfectly captures the enduring affection between sitters - two impeccably dressed gentlemen, clasping hands tightly as they adopt such an intimate pose before the camera - the charming coynes of one averting his eyes as the other looks up at him with a hint of a smile - whether friends, relatives, or lovers, they truly loved one another, that is certain.

Rather touching double portrait from a 19th Century New York photography studio. Close friends, relatives, or lovers - we will never know, but a charming moment of male affection immortalised in print.

A truly adorable pair portrait here - I love the affectionate closeness of the pose, the hint of a soft smile on the fellow in the lighter jacket, the slight head-tilt of the other, and lovely button-up ankle boots I am coveting most terribly right now. Completely forgot I ever bookmarked this one, what a joy to find it waiting to be shared when I happened across it again.

A charming affectionate pair from 1904

Oh, why not, let’s have some more vintage soldiers being sweet. WW1 British by the look of the uniforms, though I’ve not seen that kind of gaiters before so perhaps they’re not. The standing fellow has a very handsome face!

One of the most elegant, captivating war portraits I’ve ever seen, such a graceful but intimate pose - whether they were a couple or just affectionate brothers, cousins or close friends, there’s a lot of protective, loving posessiveness in the way they’re holding eachother, and you can’t help but hope they both survived the troubled times to come.

Beautiful boys in beautiful breeches and boots.

Photograph by Ludwig Angerer, 1827-1879.

I’m filing this as Edwardian because of the hat style, but it could be older, hard to tell. Whatever the age, it’s a very sweet portrait.

And I would like that table.

I first saw this utterly charming photograph a couple of days ago, but have since managed to find a much larger copy, and fascinating details to go with it!

The reverse bears not only the photographer’s name (August Seitz) and that his studio was in Třebíč - in the Czech Republic, or Bohemia as it was then, but also hand-written in faint pen, Teodor with friend. It sadly doesn’t tell which of these gentlemen is Teodor, but the happily smiling fellow on the right is just the most adorable little sweetheart, is he not? 

Gosh, I almost forgot to post this one! How could this glowingly beautiful image have slipped my mind, it’s one of my absolute favourites - such clarity and charm.

It also reminds me a great deal of one of the most popular pieces in my dear collection - if you like fine-looking well dressed young men sharing a light then you will surely appreciate this photographtoo.

What a delightful portrait of comfortable intimacy between men; the hand grasping thigh, arm around shoulders, and playfully coy placement of fingertip as they make each other smile. Adorable!

Gentlemen, raise your glasses, we drink to the end of the old year and the beginning of the new. 

What better way to see in the new year than a couple of affectionate chaps with their shared liquor and waistcoats and fantastic hats. This one has the faint outline of a photograph frame marked into the print, how nice to think it was so cherished.

Those are some quite magnificent neck ties! Love the little half-holding of thumb through fingers.

These later, Edwardian era pictures have a charming laid-back feel, casual poses of informality and character, rather than the stiff and strictly arranged scenes of the previous generation - hands in pockets, relaxed stance, neat black bowler hat slightly askew, while his companion sits happy and prim, you can almost imagine the personalities of this dashing chap and his more shy friend.

According to this adorable photograph, the secret of happiness is either growing a fine moustache, or having someone to grow it with.

Good-looking young gent on the right has a very innocent but alluring face, how wonderful it would be to know the characters of the people in these pictures.

We should just take it utterly for granted that with any photograph of this era featuring nice tables or shoes, that I am coveting the footwear and furniture. Because it’s happening yet again