Sports - Boxing - The Manly art of self-defense 1908 - Side by Side

by Mike Savad

Title

Sports - Boxing - The Manly art of self-defense 1908 - Side by Side

Artist

Mike Savad

Medium

Photograph - Colorized Photo

Description

Colorized photo from 1908, August
Original title: The "Manly art of self-defense" Newsboys' Protective Association
Photographer: Lewis Wickes Hine
Location: Cincinnati, OH

Kids are learning how to box, so they can protect themselves from hired bullies sent out by competing papers.

The original was faded, it was made of paper and had a ghostly white spot on the floor. I assume it was exposed to sunlight for a while. The lighting seems to be either a large flash off camera or a large window. I think it was a window.

I chose yellow for the walls because it was a color they used in the 1890s. I figured they would be using an old room no one was using. Mostly I wanted the image top pop as the boys alone wouldn't stand out that well.

I thought it was interesting that there was no segregation among children. The kids had shower access and I think that one on the lower right had one just before this was shot.

That kid in red has a grin on his face, making me think he bopped one on that kid with the weird punch.

The picture mostly outlines how tough kids had it back then, many without shoes, worked on the streets since age 5 to sell papers. Of which they had to buy themselves before earning some of it back. And they were attacked by rival papers, and had to defend themselves as well. Can you imagine your kid doing all of that today?

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April 16th, 2022

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