Estonian Photos - Part 39

Estonian Photos

We continue our series of photos from the Tartu Ülikooli museum of anthropology in Estonia.

For those who haven't seen my previous posts in this series, a few words of explanation.  The museum provides no information about the men, other than the photos came from the Institute of Anatomy at the University of Tartu.  In particular, it does not say who these men are, or when or why the photos were taken.  However, the photos are labeled "Füüsilise antropoloogia pildistus" (physical anthropology photography).

Who are these men?  My best guess is that they are military recruits.  The very short haircuts suggest that these photos were taken during or shortly after the enlistment process.

Many of the men in this series have dark faces and hands.  Are they are tanned from working outside like farmers, or are they dirty from some dirty occupation?  We don't know.

Note: the dark faces and hands are not as visible in today's post as in some previous posts, but still faintly visible in some of the side views.  Perhaps the photos in today's post were taken in the winter, when farmers would not be spending as much time outside getting tanned.

When were the photos taken?  My best guess is between World War I and World War II, when Estonia was an independent country with its own military.  Before WWI, Estonia was part of the Russian Empire, and after WWII, Estonia was part of the Soviet Union until 1991.

A clue to the time frame is that these photographs were made on glass plates, not film.  Dry glass-plate photography started in 1871 and began to fall out of use in the 1920s.  I found some references to it in Estonia through the 1930s.

Since the use of glass plates fell out of use in the 1920s, I think the photos were most likely taken shortly after World War I.

One other clue to the time frame of these photos is that in two previous batches, one of the men is wearing a wristwatch.   Wristwatches were considered to be for ladies before World War I.  (Men used pocket watches.)  However, during the war, wristwatches proved very useful for soldiers and pilots.  After WWI, wristwatches came into fashion for men.

Although wristwatches were evidently rare in Estonia (only two men wore a wristwatch among the hundreds that were photographed), it suggests that these photos are post-World War I.

Although these appear to be military recruits, these are probably not military photos.  We know that the museum that currently has the photos got them from the Institute of Anatomy at the University of Tartu.  If these are military photos, why would they end up at the Institute of Anatomy?

I believe the photos were taken by academics doing a study of physical anthropology.  Scientists at the Institute of Anatomy were trying to measure what they considered racial characteristics of the population by measuring the body, including phrenology (measuring the skull), ideas which are now discredited.

I think that the scientists at the Institute of Anatomy may have persuaded the military to let them take photographs of the naked new recruits for "research" purposes.  I have no written evidence to support this idea, but since the photos were at the Institute of Anatomy, and the photo subjects appear to be military recruits, it's now my best guess as to what happened.

One other question that perennially arises from these photos is: why were the men photographed in pairs?  Was it to save film?

The answer is that these photos were made on glass plates, not film, but glass plates were more expensive and involved more labor than film, so yes, it's likely that the men were photographed in pairs to save on glass plates.

So, bottom line: My best guess is that these photos were taken after World War I, the subjects are new or recent Army recruits, and the Estonian military allowed scientists from the Institute of Anatomy to take photos of the naked recruits for a study of physical anthropology.

Boxing Day 2025

Boxing Day

In Britain and some Commonwealth countries, the day after Christmas is known as Boxing Day, much to the bemusement of Americans who imagine a holiday devoted to boxing matches.  Actually, the name originated from the custom of giving a "Christmas box" of money or small gifts to servants and tradesmen on the day after Christmas.  Nowadays, it's another shopping holiday.

But that doesn't mean we can't celebrate Boxing Day with photos of pugilists.

This nameless boxer, photographed in 1915, is in the Hungarian National Digital Archive.

Boxer Erich Brandl in 1925.

Boxer Arturo Godoy drying off in the locker room of Stillman's Gym, New York in 1937.  Photo by Robert Capa.

South African boxer Willie Toweel weighing in in 1952.

British boxer Terry Spinks (left) shaking hands with Johnny Mantle in 1962.

American boxer Bobby Hunter weighing in in 1972.

American boxer Oscar de la Hoya weighing in at Caesar's Palace in 1992.

British boxer Joe Murray checking his weight before weighing in at the Beijing Olympics, 2008.

OK, Boxing Day is not really about boxers.  We end with a clip that was taken on Boxing Day, 2019, of a non-boxer, Jack Daniel, in the bushes of Little Congwong Beach in Sydney, Australia.  Happy Boxing Day!

Not the Same Old Song - Part 71

Christmas

For Christmas this year, here's my version of the old favorite Deck The Halls.

Merry Christmas to all of you!

Vintage Military - Part 84

Soviet Military Recruits

Today we look at some photos of Soviet army recruits.  Above, a medical board looks on as recruits are examined.

Another army medical board.  Despite the date 1910 written on the photo, the portrait of Stalin in the background tells us that this photo must date from the Stalinist era, 1924-1953.

Another military board with a huge portrait of Stalin in the background.

Another military board.  These photos are said to be from the 1930s.

And another military board.

This photo is dated 1931, which is presumably correct.

The same board as in the last photo, so this would also be from 1931.

We end with this undated photo of recruits lined up for their exam.

Olympic Photos by Paul Richer - Part 11

Olympic Photos by Paul Richer, part 11

We continue our series of nude photographs by Paul Richer of athletes in the 1900 Paris Olympics.  Richer was on an official Olympic commission to study the athletes.  Richer was responsible for taking nude anthropomorphic photos of the athletes, and since it was an official commission, almost all the athletes who were asked to participate did so.

We start with Italian cyclist Giuseppe Singrossi, above.

Here are Paul Richer's photos of Giuseppe Singrossi, front view ...

side view ...

and rear view.

Disclosure: I have removed yellowing from Richer's photos and brightened them.

This is Swedish athlete Gustaf Söderström.  He competed in shot put and discus throw, and he was on the Swedish tug-of-war team that won a gold medal.

Here are Richer's photos of Söderström, front view ...

side view ...

and rear view.

Swedish athlete Karl Gustaf Staaf, shown standing at left above, competed in multiple sports: pole vault, triple jump, discus throw, and hammer throw, and he was on the Swedish tug-of-war team that won a gold medal.

Here are Richer's photos of Staaf, front view ...

side view ...

and rear view.

I could not find any photos of Italian runner Francesco Stobbione aside from Richer's nude photos, so I have substituted a photo of other runners in the 1500 meter race in the Paris Olympics, in which Stobbione competed.

Here are Richer's photos of Stobbione, front view ... 

side view ...

and rear view.

Next time: more Paul Richer Olympic athlete photos.

Performers - Part 79

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Winter Solstice 2025

 Winter Solstice

Today is the winter solstice in the Northern Hemisphere – the shortest day of the year.  The guy above in East England thinks that's something to celebrate.

As does this guy celebrating the winter solstice in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Today is also the summer solstice (the longest day) in the Southern Hemisphere.  Above, celebrating the summer solstice by skinny dipping in Perth, Australia.

We end with this artwork by Mark DeBauch called "Flying Grasshopper – Solstice."  Given the snow and ice, it must be the winter solstice.