dominanefret

This is Uncle John. I found him tucked away in a secret compartment in the faux Victorian, drop-leaf, captain's desk I inherited from my Grandmother. While the desk may be faux- Victorian, Uncle John is real-Victorian. The picture says "Uncle John' on the back in red ink, which I assume was once black or blue, written in swirly fountain pen script. Since the desk was once Grandma's and the picture was once hers, I am assuming that "Uncle John" was related to her, and is thusly related to me. How many greats to add on before the uncle, I am not sure. Grandma was born in 1920, and based on the style of dress in the picture I'd say it was taken in the 1880s or 1890s. He's very high fashion, I'm impressiod.

But man, look at the expression on his face! He looks like a lecherous old coot! How many pictures do you see from the Victorian era where the subject is smirking with a raised eyebrow. Exposure times back then were long, they had to sit still. That is why there are so many pictures of dour, grumpy looking people floating around. But his face is crystal clear. He had to hold that expression!

I like to think that there was a naked lady standing behind the photographer and that is the reason why he is smiling in this picture.

I just can't look at it without smiling myself. He just looks jovial. Like a dirty old man. Seriously. He's leering. In a good way! I loves it!

Man, the treasures one finds in an old desk that probably haven't seen the light of day in fifty years..