21 Throwback Photos That Demonstrate the World Was Never Black and White

Daniel Bonfiglio Published 07/11/2024 in wow

Although color photography has been around since the 1860s, it didn't become widespread until the 1960s. As a result, many of our favorite historical figures and iconic events have only come to us through a black and white lens.

But older color photos exist, and the world has always been full of color, whether there were fancy cameras around to capture it or not. Here are 24 early color photographs that show the world has always been vibrant.

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1.
Moulin Rouge in Paris, from the archives of Albert Khan, 1914.
2.
Christina in Red: 1913. A color photo featuring bold red, a color particularly suited to the autochrome process.
3.
Rare color photo that capture street scene of Berlin in the 1930s.
4.
Autochrome color photo of a couple walking in New York City, 1915.
5.
Sailor and girl at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, Washington D.C., 1943.
6.
Oldest known color photo, 1872. A view of Agen. By Louis Ducos Du Hauron.
7.
Shark mouth on a German Bf-109, 1943.
8.
Russian woman in the 1910s.
9.
A rare color photo of Adolf Hitler which shows his true eye color.
10.
1970 - We don't have such colorful cars anymore.
11.
Original color photo of Central Park in 1933, during the economic downturn.
12.
Apprehensive GIs load onto a British landing craft for the invasion of Normandy. D-Day 1944.
13.
A rare color photo of Nikola Tesla, 1928.
14.
The original black-and-white Addams Family television set.
15.
A color photo of Mao Zedong in 1924, in Shanghai.
16.
Rare color photos from the first World War.
17.
Russian building, 1920s.
18.
A full-color photo of Leo Tolstoy taken on May 23, 1908 at his residence at Yasnaya Polyana. This is said to be the first color portrait taken in Russia, and the only one of him in existence.
19.
Possibly the oldest surviving color photograph of a person, 1890-95. A portrait of the painter Albert Bierstadt, taken by his brother, Edward.
20.
Color photograph of Marilyn Monroe in 1952.
21.
Prokudin Gorsky in early 1900s Imperial Russia.

1.
Moulin Rouge in Paris, from the archives of Albert Khan, 1914.
2.
Christina in Red: 1913. A color photo featuring bold red, a color particularly suited to the autochrome process.
3.
Rare color photo that capture street scene of Berlin in the 1930s.
4.
Autochrome color photo of a couple walking in New York City, 1915.
5.
Sailor and girl at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, Washington D.C., 1943.
6.
Oldest known color photo, 1872. A view of Agen. By Louis Ducos Du Hauron.
7.
Shark mouth on a German Bf-109, 1943.
8.
Russian woman in the 1910s.
9.
A rare color photo of Adolf Hitler which shows his true eye color.
10.
1970 - We don't have such colorful cars anymore.
11.
Original color photo of Central Park in 1933, during the economic downturn.
12.
Apprehensive GIs load onto a British landing craft for the invasion of Normandy. D-Day 1944.
13.
A rare color photo of Nikola Tesla, 1928.
14.
The original black-and-white Addams Family television set.
15.
A color photo of Mao Zedong in 1924, in Shanghai.
16.
Rare color photos from the first World War.
17.
Russian building, 1920s.
18.
A full-color photo of Leo Tolstoy taken on May 23, 1908 at his residence at Yasnaya Polyana. This is said to be the first color portrait taken in Russia, and the only one of him in existence.
19.
Possibly the oldest surviving color photograph of a person, 1890-95. A portrait of the painter Albert Bierstadt, taken by his brother, Edward.
20.
Color photograph of Marilyn Monroe in 1952.
21.
Prokudin Gorsky in early 1900s Imperial Russia.