Why do they have pink cheeks?

Although most antique photographs are found in black & white, occaisonally you may find a cdv, tintype, or ambrotype with applied coloration. The sitter's cheeks  might be tinted a light pink, a medal or button might be picked out with gold, or a dress might be tinted in a vivid blue, red,   pink or green.

Some photographers chose to embellish their work with the use of pigments

Tinting could range from the subtle, with just a few touches of one color lightly applied, to the startling, with a variety of hues competing for the viewer's attention.

Retouching

The most common type of applied decoration was simple retouching with black India ink to improve a less-than-satisfactory image. Facial features and outlines of the head were retouched to give them a clearer line and definition, or make them stand out from the background. Retouching became more popular and widely seen in the mid to late 1860s in the United States. As the size of the photo increased, and then the larger cabinet card became more popular, flaws in toning and details became more evident, and the subject received "a little work." Some received more than a little, however, as receding hairlines on both men and women were "improved," sparse mustaches filled in for Victorian tastes, and eyes of both men and women defined (giving a bit of an eyeliner effect in some!) Indeed, some give an impression of a drawing more than a photo  And if the customer wished to sport a mustache  the photographer could comply!

Many photographers represented themselves as "artists" on their business cards and image backmarks and boasted of their technique in retouching with India ink. In some cases, actual artists were employed and specialized in the work with special machines and tools. Ever seen the term "Berlin Head" on the back of a cdv? These were portraits produced from retouched negatives that became popular about 1870.

Color! Color! Color!

Tinting an image was popular early on in the history of antique images, especially in the early 1860s. The most common type of tinting was a pinking of the cheeks to give the face a little healthy color. You will see pink cheeks on ambrotypes, cdvs, and tintypes.

Yet some photographers expanded their range and use of color beyond a bit of pink. Some photographers highlighted buttons, jewelry, or military medals with a bold gold. It was especially popular to gild a buckle or some buttons on a soldier's uniform, or decoration on a kepi, in the many Civil War ambros or tintypes.  Others tinted a lady's dress in a bold blue or green or red, or perhaps chose one aspect of her outfit to decorate with a hue. A feather on a hat might be picked out  or a scarf or bow. A child's dress might receive a wash of color  with perhaps a blond glow to the hair.

Some photographers used color quite subtly. But others headed in the direction of recreating a painting. Bold colors in various tints were applied all over the image- yellow hair, blue eyes, green background, even a white shirt painted on to a naked baby!

Some photographers combined colorful tinting with gilding

By the late 1860s, tinting became less common and gradually disappeared from images into the 1870s, although some photographers clung to the process for a while.

What kind of tints were used?

Hand tinting was the method used, and the pigments were translucent. Features of the image can still be seen beneath the tint. If a thick, opaque tint is found on one of your images, chances are that a child or artistic adult of the past has attempted to make a statement with paints or crayon.

Some studios produced so many images that artists were employed, and a kind of production line for tinting was used.

Photographers would often advertise their technique with oils and watercolors on their backmarks or business cards.

 

Why was tinting used?

Quite simply, tinting was used for aesthetic reasons. Just as early filmmakers tinted movie film with colors to give a "lifelike" coloration, or studios touched up black & white film prints to "colorize" them for a receptive audience, so the early photographers sought to imitate life and increase sales. And the public was willing to pay for these services to adorn their likenesses. 

 

Explore the Antique Photography categories on Ebay to find a wide variety of photographic tinting, ranging from the sublime to the surreal. These "Pictures from the Past" offer a surprising range in decoration to suit any taste.