Photo editing programs have long been a part of our lives, so you can rarely see a photo that hasn’t been retouched. However, it’s wrong to think that Photoshop belongs only to the modern world. People have been improving the looks of their portraits for centuries. That means there were specialists in photo retouching that date all the way back to the nineteenth century. Even painters have worked hard to make models look more beautiful than they really were.
At Bright Side, we searched the archives and found photos of royalty from the nineteenth century and the beginning of the twentieth century, and we compared them to their portrait paintings. At the end of the article, we’ll show you what Vincent van Gogh really looked like.
Isabella II of Spain (1830 — 1904)
Mary of Teck, the spouse of George V (1867 — 1953)
Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon, the mother of Queen Elizabeth II (1900 — 2002)
Princess Helena of the United Kingdom (1846 — 1923)
Victoria, Princess Royal, German Empress (1840 — 1901)
Charlotte of Belgium (1840 — 1927)
Sophie of Württemberg, Queen of the Netherlands (1818 — 1877)
Queen Victoria (1819 — 1901)
Maria Christina of Austria, Queen-consort of Spain (1858 — 1929)
Maria Luisa of Bourbon-Parma, Princess-consort of Bulgaria (1870 — 1899)
Grand Duchess Elena Vladimirovna of Russia (1882 — 1957)
Princess Beatrice of the United Kingdom, Queen Victoria’s fifth daughter (1857 — 1944)
Alexandra Feodorovna, the spouse of Nicholas II of Russia (1872 — 1918)
Princess Alice of Battenberg, the mother-in-law of Queen Elizabeth II (1885 — 1969)
Alexandra of Denmark, the spouse of Edward VII (1844 — 1925)
onus: Vincent van Gogh (1853 — 1890)
What do you think about Photoshop? Do you use it often? Tell us in the comments below.
The Forgotten Tools of Typing: Typewriter Eraser Brushes
The circular objects in the image are typewriter erasers, which came with a small brush attached to them. The erasers themselves were made from soft materials like rubber, often infused with fine abrasives. This combination was designed to remove ink or typewriter ribbon marks from paper, which was the primary method of correcting mistakes on a typed document before the advent of white-out or digital editing.
The small brush on the tool was used to gently whisk away the eraser debris left on the paper after erasing a letter or a word. In an age when typewriters ruled the business and literary worlds, these tools were essential to maintaining neat and professional-looking work.
A Snapshot in Time: When Eraser Brushes Were Essential
In the early to mid-20th century, typewriter eraser brushes were as common as correction fluid or digital backspace keys are today. Every typist had one on their desk because, despite their best efforts, mistakes in typing were inevitable. These tools allowed for correcting those mistakes without the need to retype an entire page.
Back then, carbon paper was often used for making copies, so one mistake could mean fixing multiple sheets of paper. Eraser brushes were gentle enough not to tear the delicate paper yet effective at removing the erroneous marks.
The Decline of the Typewriter Era
With the rise of word processors and eventually personal computers, typewriters quickly became obsolete. The need for such specialized erasers faded as digital text allowed for instantaneous editing. Today, these erasers are rare relics from a time when typing was both an art and a skill.
For those who remember using these eraser brushes, seeing one today is a nostalgic reminder of how much the world of writing and editing has evolved. The phrase “times have changed” has never been truer, especially when comparing the challenges of fixing a typewritten document to the ease of modern technology’s undo button.
A Niche Collectible
Today, typewriter eraser brushes are considered collectibles. Vintage enthusiasts and lovers of retro office supplies value them for their simplicity and effectiveness. Though they might look out of place in a world dominated by digital devices, they serve as a testament to the ingenuity of past generations and the unique tools that once supported everyday tasks.
Conclusion: From Essential to Obsolete
For those who’ve never used a typewriter, the tools in the image may seem mysterious, even obsolete. But for older generations, they bring back memories of the rhythmic clacking of typewriter keys, the smell of ink ribbons, and the ever-present eraser brush sitting nearby. Times have certainly changed, and as with many innovations, what was once essential now rests quietly in history’s archives.
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