Hand coloring of black and white photographs was first popularized in the mid-19th century, long before color photography was invented. Often little spots of red dye were applied to put some color onto the faces of the subjects on inexpensive tintype photos, while extensive coloring using watercolors, oils, pastels, and other paints or dyes would be applied by trained and talented artists to studio portraits and scenic photographs.
Even with the advance of color photography, hand coloring continued to be popular since it would turn a photograph into a unique work of art.
Time was not tin dot some of the photographs that were brought to the studio for restoration. Some of the photographs have faded, and the layer of paint has cracked and chipped away from exposure to sunlight or changes in temperature. Other photographs were carelessly cut to fit into a frame.
The restoration of this photograph was commissioned by a client who requested that this photo be restored and enlarged from its original small size to fit a standard 8x10 size frame so that he may present it to his grandmother for her anniversary.
Digital retouching filled in the area of the photograph that was cut off, minor scratches and tears were touched up, and the restored image was color corrected to bring back the original tones.