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We believe that the image here is an American portrait (figure 1), although we have no confirmation of this. Some of our European reades think that it is French or Italian. The boy is clearly a Roman Catholic becuse of the religious statute and the sleeve ribbon shows that he is taking his First Communion. The image is physically located in America and that suggests that it is American--although of course this is not a fool-proof indicator. We believe that the portrait was probably taken in the late 1950s, in part because both farther and son are wearing single breasted suits and the lapels and ties are rather narrow. Much wider (and louder) ties were common in the early 1950s as well as the lapels. There is one aspect about this images which rather confuses us. American children genrally did their First Communion at about age 7. This boy looks quit a bit older, perhaps 10 or 11 years old or so--although the short pants make him look younger. We note that some European boys do their First Communion at a later age. We would be interested in any insights reader might be able to add. We are increasinly coming to the view that this is a Confirmation rather than a First Cmmunion portrait.
We believe that the image here is an American portrait (figure 1), although we have no confirmation of this. Some of our European reades think that it is French or Italian.
The boy is clearly a Roman Catholic becuse of the religious statute and the sleeve ribbon shows that he is taking his First Communion.
The image is physically located in America and that suggests that it is American--although of course this is not a fool-proof indicator. The style of the photograph may orovide clues as to where this boy is from, but we are unable to assess this. One interesting aspect of this portrait is that the father is included. We have noticed hundreds of First Communuin and Confirmation portraits. Almost always the portrait is of the boy by himself.
We believe that the portrait was probably taken in the late 1950s, in part because both farther and son are wearing single breasted suits and the lapels and ties are rather narrow. Much wider (and louder) ties were common in the early 1950s as well as the lapels.
There is one aspect about this images which rather confuses us. American children genrally did their First Communion at about age 7. This boy looks quit a bit older, perhaps 10 or 11 years old or so--although the short pants make him look younger. We note that some European boys do their First Communion at a later age. We would be interested in any insights reader might be able to add. We are increasinly coming to the view that this is a Confirmation rather than a First Communion portrait.
The one aspect of this photogaph that suggests to us that the boy may be European is the boy's short pants--especially the short cut. There are possible complications, such as the boy may be from an European immigrant family. The father's suit looks to us like a suit an American adult might of worn. The one thing here that gives us pause is the man's shoes. They are not a shoe style that an American man might have worn to a formal occassion like a First Communion or a portrait associated with First Communion.
HBC has received several comments on this portrait. Most but not all believe that the boy is European.
A HBC reader believes that this image is more likely European. He believes that the boy is probably 11 years old. This is the age for First Communion in many European countries. He wears a short pants suit like ones worn in France ,Belgium, and Italy. The man is putting his hand on the shoulder's boy he is perhaps the godfather. This is a special tradition on Italy. In France in the 1950s, the boys didn't wear badges anymore. The man looks rather Italian. Our reader tells us, "In my opinion, this is probably Italian and probably datesfrom about 1945 at 1960. In Italy the boys 11 years old commonly wore short pants in 1960, even for their First Communion."
A French reader writes, "I completely agree with the above comments. I think the boy was probably Italian. We could, however, find the same photo in France during the 1950s, perhaps without the little white flower or badge at the lapel."
Another HBC reader believes that it is indeed an American image. He writes, "I noted the several Holy Communion photos on the HBC site. In one American image, the man standing by the this boy is his sponsor and such photos were very typically to commemorate the event here in the United States. First Communioin is normally done in the Second Grade at a Catholic school. The boy in the photo that I believe is mis-marked as First Communion. He is clearly older than 7 and his hair-cut is more like what we boys wire in 1960 when we were Confirmed in 7th grade at about 12 or 13 yeras old. Also his sponsor's suit is baggy like the mid-50's for men. Also black and white photographs were still taken then as color was still too expensive. This looks much like the suit I wore for my confirmation. I was living in California and I was confirmed in 1960."
Another American reader writes, "I'm inclined to agree with the HBC readers who think this boy is European, either Italian or French. The boy's short pants are too short for the American style in the 1950s, although I realize, after reading the account of the California boy's experience, that an American family might deliberately imitate the European style. Still, it seems likelier to me that the the photo was taken somewhere in Europe. Charle
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