The article explores the significance of a 1894 photograph of O-o-dee, a young member of the Kiowa tribe, highlighting the rarity of smiles in 19th-century photography. At that time, long exposure times made smiling difficult, and cultural norms further discouraged such expressions. As photography evolved, particularly with faster shutter speeds, smiles became more common. The article also notes how Franklin D. Roosevelt embraced smiling during the Great Depression to convey hope, marking a significant cultural shift regarding smiles in art and photography.
O‑o-dee's smile, captured in a 1894 photograph, serves as a captivating reminder of how cultural perceptions of smiling have evolved over time.
Historically, smiling in photographs was rare, with many viewing it as unseemly, and it wasn't until the end of the 19th century that spontaneous expressions began to be captured.
Photographic exposure times in the 19th century made it nearly impossible to smile, which adds a unique historical dimension to the rarity of smiles in old portraits.
The transformation in how smiles are perceived in photography reflects broader changes in cultural norms, particularly illustrated by Franklin D. Roosevelt's use of smiling in his symbolic role during the Great Depression.
Collection
[
|
...
]