[lamignonette]

[richwall101]

Two Boys in their Sunday Best - Natchez - Mississippi - 1947 photo by Henri C Bresson

[gacougnol]

Noemia Prada

Andalucia

[chuckpatch]

Longwood, Natchez MS 1991

[uptownlowdown]

✸ vintage black beauty is live!

i've been asked where/how to find early-mid 20th century images of black people to reference when drawing/writing/whatever, so i figured i'd link to my own personal resource anyone is welcome to utilize! :)

with over 900 pins and counting, this pinterest board focuses entirely on black style from the 1800s - 1970s. it’s been harder than ever to research historical fashion without running into AI, misinformation, and flat out mislabeling of different eras, so i’ve done my best to represent each period as accurately as i can.

i’ve included sections for non-caricatured art and illustration, print media, music, entertainment, styling tools, and ads. there are also sections for period pieces and more modern takes on vintage style. i did not add the 80s and 90s because there's already a wealth of imagery and information about those decades, but maybe one day :)

*NOTE: i am not a professional archivist or historian! just a black american passionate about my history. as such, this board is heavily centered on black americans and afro-caribbeans, although there are photos from across the diaspora, including africa and the UK.

*additionally: pins on pinterest come from all over and may not always have the correct information, depending on who uploaded it. while i’ve taken great lengths to research undated photos, some categorized pins are educated guesses based on the hair, fashion, or photography style of the photo. uncategorized pins are photos i can’t confidently connect to a specific decade without potentially mislabeling.

with this in mind, this board acts as a handy visual guide, but should be used in addition to your own research. happy researching! 🖤

[rozieramati]

Amsterdam, 1966 by: Wim van der Linden

[vintageeveryday]

Employment office during Depression days. Men studying announcement of jobs, 1930s.

[a-state-of-bliss]

Diana Ross 'Baby It's Me' Album by Victor Skrebneski (1977)

[xanaxfarts]

[retropopcult]

Hollywood Blvd at Wilcox, 1926

[henk-heijmans]

Nude in a net, Provincetown, Massachusetts, ca. 1940 - by Herbert Matter (1907 – 1984), Swiss

[radical-revolution]

[eloquentedition]

https://www.instagram.com/eloquentedition/

[nobrashfestivity]

Joseph Breitenbach Fragrance of Camphor 1938

[miscosasalberto]

[twixnmix]

Ethel Waters and her husband Clyde Edwards Matthews photographed by Carl Van Vechten on June 8, 1932.

[retro-only-darling]

Miss. Hepburn