NOTE: THE BOOK "PAINTED BACKDROP: BEHIND THE SITTER IN AMERICAN TINTYPE PHOTOGRAPHY 1860 - 1920" by JIM LINDERMAN is now AVAILBLE AS A DOWNLOAD FOR APPLE IPAD AND E-BOOKS
HERE
For me, the most beautiful tintype photographs are those which do not aspire to be something greater than they are, those with elaborate Victorian backdrops and over-decorative props. Far more beautiful, and representative of the times, are the makeshift, naive and primitive hand-painted backgrounds done by the amateurs and rudimentary early photographers. Traveling camera men who needed to control the background but enhanced a sheet of muslin, not silk.
Set of Folk Art Tintype Backdrops Collection Jim Linderman circa 1870-1880.
SEE ALSO THE BOOK THE PAINTED BACKDROP BY JIM LINDERMAN HERE
I agree that the rudimentary and oddball backdrops often add far more to the photograph than elaborately styled depictions of lush interiors. I think it's also a facet of portraits taken by the less practised professionals that reveal more about the subjects. The less well posed - and carefully composed - groups, for example, often reveal great character. Thanks for sharing these tintypes, Jim.
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