Shoeshine Collection

Shoe shine Lisbon, Portugal
A young shoe shine man reads a newspaper while waiting for his next customer in a Lisbon street Portugal. First published The Sunday Times Date: 1989

Playing a Tune, (oil on canvas)
822833 Playing a Tune, (oil on canvas) by Witkowski, Karl (1860-1910); 53.3x38.1 cm; Private Collection; (add.info.: Playing a Tune. Karl Witkowski (1860-1910). Oil on canvas

Mr Hume se passant la fantaisie... 19th century. Creator: Honore Daumier
Mr Hume se passant la fantaisie... 19th century. Mr Hume passing the fantasy

Scenes in the First Reconstructed Legislature, 1905. Creator: Unknown
Scenes in the First Reconstructed Legislature, 1905. Additional title: Cartoons from " The Loil Legislature, " by Captain B. H. Screws

Harper's February, c1890 - 1907. Creator: Edward Penfield
Harper's February, c1890 - 1907. [Publisher: Harper Publications; Place: New York]

Woman in shoe shine booth Lisbon
Shoe shine booths in a Lisbon Street, Portugal. People sit in the small cabins to have their shoes cleaned and shined Date: 1988

Victorian satirical cartoon, Brothers of the Brush, Artist and cleaners
Vintage engraving of a Victorian satirical cartoon on the Brothers of the Brush. The Artist, shoeshine, street cleaner and chimney sweep all living in poverty

Pyramid tomb of Cestius, Rome, Italy, with shoeshines in the foreground. Date: late 19th century

African American shoeshine boy, c. 1901 (b/w photo)
2920935 African American shoeshine boy, c.1901 (b/w photo) by American Photographer, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Title on photograph Nuthin doin Photograph by V.G)

Shoe-Black, 18th century. Creator: Jacopo Amigoni
Shoe-Black, 18th century

Shoe Shop Sign, c. 1937. Creator: Alfred Denghausen
Shoe Shop Sign, c. 1937

Shoeshine stand, Southeastern U. S. 1936. Creator: Walker Evans
Shoeshine stand, Southeastern U.S. [Sign: Shine - Bennie Sims. On bicycle: City Shine Parlour ]

Royal Ascot Shoeshine Date: 09 July 1996

All Right, c. 1897 (oil on canvas)
1767502 All Right, c.1897 (oil on canvas) by Brown, John George (1831-1913); 61x40.6 cm; Private Collection; (add.info.: All Right. John George Brown (1831-1913). Oil on canvas. Painted circa 1897

Bright as a Dollar, (oil on canvas)
822836 Bright as a Dollar, (oil on canvas) by McCord, George Herbert (1848-1909); 61x41 cm; Private Collection; (add.info.: Bright as a Dollar. George Herbert McCord (1848-1909). Oil on canvas

Moses Square, Houndsditch (engraving)
583231 Moses Square, Houndsditch (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Moses Square, Houndsditch); Look and Learn / Peter Jackson Collection

British Indian Army Camp, c. 1860s (b / w photo)
495541 British Indian Army Camp, c.1860s (b/w photo) by Hooper, Willoughby Wallace (1837-1912); Private Collection; (add.info)

Barefoot shoeshine boy, North Africa, possibly Egypt c. 1880s
Vintage 19th century photograph: Barefoot shoeshine boy, North Africa, possibly Egypt, c.1880s

Paddys Valentine, 1885 (oil on canvas)
985068 Paddys Valentine, 1885 (oil on canvas) by Brown, John George (1831-1913); 61x40.7 cm; Private Collection; (add.info.: Paddys Valentine. John George Brown (1831-1913). Oil on canvas

London Street Scene, illustration to Twice Round the Clock
CW94844 London Street Scene, illustration to Twice Round the Clock by George Augustus Sala (1828-96) 1859 (pencil on paper) by McConnell

Shoe black (shoeshine boy) and client, in 18th century style. 18th century

The Independent Shoe Black, from Street Life in London, 1877-78 (woodburytype)
SC28131 The Independent Shoe Black, from Street Life in London, 1877-78 (woodburytype) by Thomson, John (1837-1921); Victoria & Albert Museum, London, UK; Scottish, out of copyright

Cries of Paris - shoeshine boy

Scots soldier pursued by shoeshine boys
Shine, sir -- half piastre. A Scottish soldier with outsized boots polished like mirrors, being pursued by four Egyptian shoeshine boys! Date: 1916

Railway Travelling in India, illustration from Cassell
STC394744 Railway Travelling in India, illustration from Cassells Illustrated History of England (engraving) by English School

Sheas Hotel, 618 8th Avenue, New York, 1906 (silver gelatin print)
MNY380762 Sheas Hotel, 618 8th Avenue, New York, 1906 (silver gelatin print) by Byron Company (fl.1890-1942); 35.6x27.9 cm; Museum of the City of New York

London Bootblack, 1882 (oil on canvas)
PWI57587 London Bootblack, 1882 (oil on canvas) by Bastien-Lepage, Jules (1848-84); Musee des Arts Decoratifs, Paris, France; (add.info.: Petit cireur de bottes a Londres.); ePeter Willi; French

The Boys New York, 1886 (oil on canvas)
985054 The Boys New York, 1886 (oil on canvas) by Brown, John George (1831-1913); 61x40.6 cm; Private Collection; (add.info.: The Boys New York. John George Brown (1831-1913). Oil on canvas

A Dispute Over Territory, (oil on canvas)
651002 A Dispute Over Territory, (oil on canvas) by Brown, John George (1831-1913); 39.1x30.4 cm; Private Collection; (add.info.: A Dispute Over Territory. John George Brown (1831-1913)

The Dramatic Shoe Black, 1876-77 (woodburytype)
SC28140 The Dramatic Shoe Black, 1876-77 (woodburytype) by Thomson, John (1837-1921); Victoria & Albert Museum, London, UK; Scottish, out of copyright

I ll Share With You, (oil on canvas)
822834 I ll Share With You, (oil on canvas) by Brown, John George (1831-1913); 63.5x50.7 cm; Private Collection; (add.info.: I ll Share With You. John George Brown (1831-1913). Oil on canvas

Shoeshine Boy, 1902 (oil on canvas)
822676 Shoeshine Boy, 1902 (oil on canvas) by Brown, John George (1831-1913); 61x43.2 cm; Private Collection; (add.info.: Shoeshine Boy. John George Brown (1831-1913). Oil on canvas

Vue d Amsterdam No. 26. De Portugeesche Jooden Kerk. La Sijnagogue Portugaise
1122007 Vue d Amsterdam No.26. De Portugeesche Jooden Kerk. La Sijnagogue Portugaise, 1825 (hand-coloured engraving) by Kruyff

New York Scenes, with profile of Empress State Building in background, Thursday 15th October 1964

SHOPS OPEN AT 8AM
A busy street scene in London as the shops open at 8am. Date: 1858

Shoe shine man in a shady spot - Houmt Souk, Djerba, Tunisia
A shoe shine man lies in a shady spot on the pavement in Houmt Souk, Djerba, Tunisia. Beside him are the tools of his trade - brushes and polish

Shoe shine in street, Lisbon
A shoe shine man cleans a customers shoes in a Lisbon street, Portugal. The male customer holds on to a traffic light as his shoes are polished. First published The Sunday Times Date: 1989

Algeria - A Young Ouled Bootblack. Date: circa 1907

Algerian Shoeshine Boy. Date: circa 1907

Two Shoeshine boys fighting over a potential customer - humorous images used as a promotional tool for Blecao - the blurb for which reads as follows

Daguerreotype made in 1838 by Louis-Jacques-Mande Daguerre of a Paris boulevard
DAGUERREOTYPE, 1838. Daguerreotype made in 1838 by Louis-Jacques-Mande Daguerre of a Paris boulevard, the first photograph to show a human being

Shoeshiner in the French Market, New Orleans, 19th Century
Vintage engraving of a Shoeshiner in the French Market, New Orleans, 19th Century

Two cats on a New Year card, customer and shoeshine boy. Date: circa 1890s

Shoeshine boy, Egypt. Date: circa 1870

CHICAGO: SHOESHINE, 1941. A shoeshine on 47th Street on the South Side of Chicago, Illinois. Photograph by Edwin Rosskam, April, 1941

NEW YORK CITY, 1938. A shoeshine man in New York City. Photograph by Jack Allison, 1938

NEW YORK CITY, 1938. Street scene on 125th Street and 7th Avenue in New York City. Photograph by Jack Allison, 1938

NEW YORK CITY, 1938. Shoeshiners outside of a butcher shop in Harlem, New York City. Photograph by Jack Allison, 1938

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"Shoeshine: A Reflection of Time and Culture" Playing a Tune, captured on an oil on canvas, the artistry of shoeshining comes to life in Lisbon, Portugal. The Shoe shine booth nestled near the Pyramid tomb of Cestius in Rome, Italy, tells tales of timeless traditions. In Lisbon's bustling streets, a woman skillfully tends to shoes at her booth while customers pass by. This scene echoes the Victorian era's satirical cartoon "Brothers of the Brush, " where artists and cleaners humorously unite through their craft. Traveling back in time to 1901, an African American shoeshine boy is immortalized in a black and white photograph. His determination and work ethic speak volumes about resilience during challenging times. The 18th-century painting "Shoe-Black" by Jacopo Amigoni showcases a different perspective on this trade—an elegant portrayal that transcends social boundaries. Even politics found its way into the world of shoe shining as depicted in an 1863 lithograph. With wit and ambition, one man shines his shoes exclaiming his future plans for Congress—a testament to dreams reaching beyond humble beginnings. A glimpse into history reveals a vibrant sign from a shoe shop dating back to 1937 created by Alfred Denghausen. Its nostalgic charm reminds us how essential this service was throughout generations. Walker Evans' lens captures a poignant moment at a shoeshine stand in the Southeastern U. S. , offering insight into daily life during America's Great Depression—where hope persevered even amidst adversity. From everyday individuals to high society events like Royal Ascot Shoeshine services have catered to all walks of life—ensuring polished appearances with meticulous care. "All Right, " an exquisite oil painting from 1897 encapsulates not only skilled craftsmanship but also portrays camaraderie between client and shiner—a connection formed over shared stories exchanged during each session.