This cabinet card photograph features a fine gentleman wearing a ship captains cap and sitting between two beautiful finely dressed young women on a paddle boat. The women are holding the oars while the man rests on a blanket wrapped bench. I suppose this image has comical undertones. The boat on the lake looks like a real outdoor scene but it is most likely all taking place in a terrific well accessorized studio. The photographer of this unique image is Herrmann Witt and his studio was located in Lubbenau, Germany.
ROW ROW ROW YOUR BOAT GENTLY DOWN THE STREAM. MERRILY, MERRILY, MERRILY, MERRILY, LIFE IS BUT A DREAM (ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU HAVE TWO BEAUTIFUL WOMEN DOING THE ROWING)
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I think you’re comment about the set being “comical” was interesting. If it was a set, which I believe, after all, that it was, I think it was very authentic-looking. – Thank you so much for such a special card. Every detail draws your eye, from the gentle pleasure in the women’s eyes, to the drapes of fabric that the gentleman is seated on.
I guest it is good for the male in this picture that the women that are rolling the boat is not in this generation. Because I do believe it would be a new meaning to Man overboard. ! 🙂
The town of LĂĽbbenau is in the centre of a region called SPREEWALD, about 62 miles south-east of Berlin, Germany. This is indeed an outdoor photo and it shows the typical punt boat and two women of the indigenous people of the Sorbs/Wends.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spreewald
However, I agree, that the photo looks somehow staged with the ‘captain’ sitting on a blanket showing a big ship.
Here is a link to another photo by Herrmann/Hermann Witt from around 1905, without any further biographical info on the photographer though.

It is a real photo postcard of the “Swans’ Home, LĂĽbbenau, Spreewald”.