ID this pic: Parisian (?) kids ca. 1975-80 (?)

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Daneinbalto

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Who can ID this photo, displayed as a large framed print at my work. The aspect ratio suggests 35mm film, the clothing suggests mid-1970s or 1980s, the buildings look like Paris and the children look like they could be French. I looked in archives under Eisenstaedt, Life Pictures, HCB but didn't find this shot...can anybody ID the photograph?

Edit Feb 20, 2009 22:04 EST: I posted a high-res version here: http://www.mindspring.com/~1980/children.jpg
 

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Not shot by some dude at work

Not shot by some dude at work

Sorry, I should have mentioned that I did ask around. The picture was there from the previous occupants. To me it looks like the work of a pro or a very serious amateur. I am thinking it was done by someone famous.
 
Tin Eye didn't find any matches for it... but that's hardly conclusive. I'll keep my eyes open. It does have a Doisneau feel to it.

Regardless of who took it, it's a nice image.
 
Daneinbalto said:
the clothing suggests mid-1970s or 1980s, the buildings look like Paris and the children look like they could be French.
Click to expand...

To me it looks much older than that, much older.
I'm not sure about Paris, but I'd say it was european.
 
Didn't take the frame apart

Didn't take the frame apart

No, I didn't open the frame and look on the back. The piece is professionally framed and I wouldn't be able to open it without cutting through sealing strips. The picture doesn't belong to me so I'd rather not mess with it.
 
Did you x-ray it or take fingerprints? Just kidding. I can't help you about its origin, but it is interesting, and I love the fact that with such Parisian/European architecture you can't tell if it was taken last year or 100 years ago. Given that these appear to be European as opposed to North African children, and are wearing head coverings, I would say it's older than you say, more like the 50's or 60's. Just a guess......John.
 
High-res version, format

High-res version, format

I posted a higher-res version here

http://www.mindspring.com/~1980/children.jpg

Note the jacket worn by the boy who is the second-to-last to the right. It looks like a ski jacket that did not exist prior to ca. 1970. Also the girl in the middle wearing a white hat is wearing a jacket from the 1970s or '80s. The houses have outside plumbing. England is notorious for mandating outdoor plumbing despite it being inferior to indoor plumbing (breaks when it freezes), but I am thinking it might be found in Paris as well. I don't think houses in Vienna would have outdoor plumbing - it is too cold there. Notably, no houses have TV antennas (or satellite dishes for that matter).

The aspect ratio of the photo as printed is 1.28, which is a slightly cropped 35 mm or possibly 6 x 4.5. I can't see the connection with a 5 x 3 format.
 
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Daneinbalto said:
Note the jacket worn by the boy who is the second-to-last to the right. It looks like a ski jacket that did not exist prior to ca. 1970.
Click to expand...

I noticed that jacket, this picture can not have been taken in the 30s or 40s.

Do you have more clues? Is the photo an original print? Where do you live yourself and where do you work? Are there any other related photos at your work?
 
Daneinbalto, good detective work. The circumstancial evidence suggest France to me too.

I thought maybe Ronnis was your man but looking at my books and googling him for his later output did not return anything. I 'm intrigued.


.
 
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it could be any city in France. Does not ring me the bells of any place in Paris. The cheap style of the building in back (cheminees) and outside plumbery probably excludes downtown Paris. I also think it is probably the 70's.

Note that Northern Italy could also be possible, just by looking at the kids
 
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Circumstances

Circumstances

Thanks for coming up with names - in my ignorance, I wasn't aware of Boubat, Riboud, or Ronnis. The observations about the building style are also relevant. In addition to Northern Italy, I was considering Argentina. It can get somewhat cold there during the winter and the girl in the front seems like she could be carrying a lab coat in her hands. In Argentina, public school students have to wear a A lab coat to school. But I still lean more toward Europe.

Circumstances: I live in Baltimore, on the East Coast of the US. The print is placed in the department of pediatrics of a medical school. Otherwise, the walls are decorated with unframed color posters with UNESCO logos, probably dating to the last 15 years. The b/w photo is professionally framed and has no markings on the outside, front or back. When I asked the director of the center where the picture hangs, she said that it was already there when she took over the space.
 
The photo looks like it was taken in Marseilles in the early 1970s, the subject could be some maghrebi immigrant children.
 
the kid's clothing look more 50's than older. The building style suggest Germany or Austria. Parisian buildings would be more ornate and usually older. Window treatment is post war. The "garret's" on the roof of the building in the background are more "germanic" than french/italian.
The lack of cars,scooters,bicycles suggest early 50's - possibly Vienna or Beriin. Public ownership of cars was less common at the time. I dont know if the grounds are part of the playground of a school (no parking) or if it is a public space though.
Nice shot, whoever took it! Would be interesting to have it removed and checked out. Suggest to your boss that it probably should be reframed with archival mat and backing and take it to a good frame shop.
 
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