Photographer Robert Franck of Worms, Germany produced this rather amateurish cabinet card. The boy is holding his bicycle while posing indoors on what appears to be a stage with a nautical painting on a screen behind him. The child looks as if he is standing in front of a giant picture postcard. Look closely and you can see the stand on each side of the backdrop that holds it in place. The stand is on the floor and located at both corners of the screen. If the photographer stood closer to the subject, the edges of the backdrop would have not been in the image; significantly improving the picture. The very obviously fake plant behind the rear bicycle wheel further detracts from this image. Despite my criticism of this photograph, there is something that I like about it. If one focuses on the boy and his bike, this is a fine image of a child and his beloved mode of transportation. This photograph presents a bit of confusing information because on the reverse of the image, the photographers name is listed as F. Berf (possibly F. Ferf). Perhaps Mr Franck succeeded Mr Berf as owner of the studio and was using up Mr Berf’s card stock. Also on the reverse of the cabinet card is a hand written note that identifies the child as “the little Hoffman boy on his bicycle. He is now married.” (SOLD)
A BOY, A BIKE, AND A BAD BACKDROP
LITTLE GIRL PARTICIPATES IN RELIGIOUS CEREMONY IN REGENSBURG, GERMANY
A young girl poses for her photograph creating a memory of her participation in a religious ceremony. Is the event a communion, or possibly a confirmation. This pretty girl is holding a prayer book and a lit candle. She is dressed in all white and wearing a pair of gloves. The photographer is Walter Klie whose studio was located in Regensburg, Germany.
SIX FRAUEN (WOMEN) ALL IN A ROW IN CASSEL, GERMANY
This photograph was produced by G Ewald in Cassel, Germany. The image shows six women standing in a row. They are showing a great deal of affection toward each other and seem to be having a good time. Writing on the reverse of the image indicates that the photograph was taken in 1904. The town of Cassel became known as Kassel in 1928.
MOTHER AND YOUNG DAUGHTER ENJOYING SOME MOMENTS IN BERLIN, GERMANY
Photographer M. Appel does a masterful job in this photograph capturing a scene, albeit in a studio, that is nearly universal. This image shows a mother and daughter enjoying spending time together. Mother is reading with her adorable little girl while drinking a cup of tea or coffee. The daughter is wearing bows in her hair and a priceless expression. She affectionately rests her left arm on her mother’s shoulder. The reverse of the photograph has printing announcing that Mr. Appel had studios in three locations in Berlin, Germany.
A YOUNG MAN AND THREE YOUNG WOMAN IN FANCY COSTUMES (STUTTGART, GERMANY)
A young man and three young woman dressed in ethnic clothing, or theatrical costumes, pose at the H. Brandseph studio in Stuttgart, Germany. The foursome are attractive, and they appear to be teenagers. Perhaps they are stage performers. Printing on the reverse of the cabinet card reveals that Hermann Brandseph’s Stuttgart studio was located at “Marienstrasse 36”. A telephone number is listed for the studio which demonstrates that this photograph was produced toward the end of the cabinet card era. Hermann was the son of well known German photographer Georg Friedrich Brandseph (1826-1915). Georg was a lithographer, silhouetter, and painter who learned about the daguerreotype process from the celebrated photographer Karl Reutlinger who lived in Stuttgart (to view a number of Reutlinger’s photographs, click on cabinet card gallery category “Photographer: Reutlinger”). Georg opened his own studio there in 1853. In the 1870’s the Brandseph studio was extremely successful. In fact, by 1870, the studio had 40 employees. Georg turned the studio over to his son Hermann (1857-1907) in 1884.
HANDSOME COUPLE AND AN OPEN BOOK IN GLATZ, GERMANY
This photograph features a nice looking well dressed couple posing with an open book. The photographer is Joseph Meier of Glatz, Germany. The city of Glatz is located in lower Silesia. A date written on the reverse of the photograph indicates that it was taken in 1914.
CUTE GIRL HOLDING A BEAUTIFUL DOLL IN HAMBURG, GERMANY
A cute little girl holds her doll as she stands on an ornate chair in the studio of photographer Gustav Habel in Hamburg, Germany. Note the wonderful detail in the doll’s appearance. In addition, examine the carved animal heads at the end of the arm rests of the chair.The girl is wearing a great hat and dressy high boots. No biographical information could be found about Gustav Habel and the girl in the image is unidentified.
BEAUTIFUL GERMAN WOMAN WEARING LACE MANTILLA
This exceptionally clear cabinet card features an extremely beautiful woman wearing a lace mantilla. What’s a mantilla? According to Wikepedia, a mantilla is a lace or silk veil or shawl worn over the head and shoulder. Mantillas became popular in Spain toward the end of the sixteenth century. The photographer is Emilie Bieber and she had studios in Berlin and Hamburg, Germany. Could E. Bieber, be related to Canadian singer and songwriter, Justin Bieber? Afterall, Justin Bieber’s great grandfather was from Germany. Forget it! Lets not go there! Lets get back to the cabinet card. Emilie Bieber was a female German photographer who was later joined in business by her nephew Leonard Berlin-Bieber. To read more about Emilie Bieber and to view other photographs by her studio, click on the category “Photographer: Bieber”.
“LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE” IN MUNICH, GERMANY
The young girl in this photograph looks like the American little girls who get all “dolled up” for beauty contests and the results of those efforts are that the girls look much older than their years. Writing on the reverse of this image indicates that the girl in the photograph is ten years old and is named Traudi. Fortunately, Traudi isn’t made up (cosmetically) to look inappropriately provocative like many of the contestants in the aforementioned beauty pageants. However, our “Little Miss Sunshine” looks well beyond her years in this photograph. According to the previous owner of this image, the subject is wearing a fancy “Rokoko” costume. She is also holding a fan. This cabinet card may or may not be an example of “Rokoko” fashion. I’m in way over my head. Fortunately, a number of visitors to the Cabinet Card Gallery are very knowledgeable about the history of fashion and hopefully they will leave a comment confirming or dispelling the Rokoko theory. By matter of explanation, (thank you Wikipedia), Rokoko refers to the late baroque periods artistic movement and style that had impact on fine arts architecture, decoration, interior design, and fashion. The movement developed in Paris, France, and was “more jocular, florid, and graceful” than the baroque influence. The photographer of this image is J. B. Hiebl and his studio was located in Munich, Germany.
PERPLEXED YOUNG WOMAN POSES IN A CHAIR IN GLAUCHAU OR WALDENBURG, GERMANY
A photographer named Alvin Dietrich photographed this perplexed looking young woman sitting in a chair. Dietrich had photography studios in Glauchau and Waldenburg, Germany. The woman is wearing a hair band and a bow. She is not wearing jewelry. Note the flowers pinned near the top of her dress. A newspaper sits on a table behind her.
THE CABINET CARD GALLERY 