Artillery Private
The original paper print was hand-colored by the photographer, a common practice before color photography became widely available. My work has been limited to scanning the original print and digitally restoring its contrast while repairing age-related damage to the paper. No new colors have been added or altered.
One interesting detail is that the photographer incorrectly colored the buttons on the private's tunic. They appear yellow, resembling the brass buttons worn by officers, whereas the buttons on an enlisted soldier's tunic should in fact be copper-colored. Such small inaccuracies are not uncommon in hand-colored photographs, where the artist often relied on memory or artistic interpretation rather than strict uniform regulations.
The photograph is therefore presented as a faithful restoration of the original hand-colored print, preserving both its historical character and the occasional artistic imperfections that make these early colorized images so fascinating.
