Shoeshine Boy Collection

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

The Little Shoe-Shine Boy, n.d. Creator: Charles-Philibert de Lasteyrie
The Little Shoe-Shine Boy, n.d

Young Sol and Greely, from Harper's Weekly, published May 1, 1869. Creator: Frank Beard
Young Sol and Greely, from Harper's Weekly, published May 1, 1869

Scenes from Russian Folk Life, n.d. Creator: Ignatii Stepanovich Shchedrovski
Scenes from Russian Folk Life, n.d

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

The Independent Shoe-Black, 1881. Creator: John Thomson
The Independent Shoe-Black, 1881. A work made of woodburytype, plate 21 in the book " street incidents" (1881)

The Independent Shoe-Black, 1877. Creator: John Thomson
The Independent Shoe-Black, 1877. A work made of woodburytype, from the album " street life in london"

The Dramatic Shoe-Black, 1877. Creator: John Thomson
The Dramatic Shoe-Black, 1877. A work made of woodburytype, from the album " street life in london"

Shoeshine boy polishing a salors boots, advertisement for Carrs Blackit shoe polish (chromolitho)
6030700 Shoeshine boy polishing a salors boots, advertisement for Carrs Blackit shoe polish (chromolitho) by English School

Their First Smoke, 1889 (oil on canvas)
822888 Their First Smoke, 1889 (oil on canvas) by Witkowski, Karl (1860-1910); 71x56 cm; Private Collection; (add.info.: Their First Smoke. Karl Witkowski (1860-1910). Oil on canvas. Painted in 1889

Foregate, Strand, Entrance to Boswell Court - demolished for the site of the New Law
BON123800 Foregate, Strand, Entrance to Boswell Court - demolished for the site of the New Law Courts, 1868 (oil on canvas) by Landells

Shine, sir? (b / w photo)
3637369 Shine, sir? (b/w photo) by English Photographer, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Shine, sir? Illustration for Wonderful London by St John Adcock (Fleetway, c 1930)

The Shoe Black, engraved by Wagner, 1739 (engraving) (b / w photo)
XJF137005 The Shoe Black, engraved by Wagner, 1739 (engraving) (b/w photo) by Amiconi, Jacopo (1675-1752) (after); Private Collection; Italian, out of copyright

Tete a Tete, c. 1888-1890 (oil on canvas)
1767362 Tete a Tete, c.1888-1890 (oil on canvas) by Brown, John George (1831-1913); 63.5x50.8 cm; Private Collection; (add.info.: Tete a Tete. John George Brown (1831-1913). Oil on canvas

Fred Racik, the original shoeshine boy, at the Elysee Palace, Paris (colour litho)
3097542 Fred Racik, the original shoeshine boy, at the Elysee Palace, Paris (colour litho) by French School, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Fred Racik, the original shoeshine boy)

Incroyable et Merveilleuse in Paris, 1797 (oil on canvas)
CHT188763 Incroyable et Merveilleuse in Paris, 1797 (oil on canvas) by Boilly, Louis Leopold (1761-1845) (attr. to); Private Collection; eArchives Charmet; French, out of copyright

True Friends, 1900 (oil on canvas)
1767361 True Friends, 1900 (oil on canvas) by Brown, John George (1831-1913); 61x40.6 cm; Private Collection; (add.info.: True Friends. John George Brown (1831-1913). Oil on canvas. Painted in 1900

Shoe Bench, c. 1941. Creator: Clarence W Dawson
Shoe Bench, c. 1941

Decrotteur (Shoe Shiner), from Mes gens, ou Les commissionnaires ultramontains au service de qui veut le payer (Servants for Public Hire), 1766-70

Sanford Robinson Gifford, 1860s. Creator: Unknown
Sanford Robinson Gifford, 1860s

[Camp Scene with Soldiers of the 22nd New York State Militia, Harpers Ferry, Virginia], 1862

London Stone, 1872. Creator: Gustave Doré
London Stone, 1872. London Stone set in a grille at St Swithin, London Stone, Anglican Church on Cannon Street in the City of London. From, " LONDON

Old Boots, A well known character at Rippon in Yorkshire, 1821. Creator: Robert Cooper
Old Boots, A well known character at Rippon in Yorkshire, 1821. Portrait of Old Boots (c1692-1762), an eccentric shoe shiner who was blessed with a plentitude of nose and chin

London Shoeshine Boy, 1882. Artist: Jules Bastien-Lepage
London Shoeshine Boy, 1882. Found in the collection of the Musee des Arts Decoratifs, Paris, France

Shoeshine, New York, USA, mid 1930s

Shoe shiners working on board the Staten Island Ferry, New York, USA, c1920s-c1930s

A Swell, c1896, (1897). Artist: Philip William May
A Swell, c1896, (1897). From The Studio Volume 9. [London Offices of the Studio, London, 1897]

A bootblack, London, 1926-1927. Artist: McLeish
A bootblack, London, 1926-1927. Illustration from Wonderful London, edited by Arthur St John Adcock, Volume I, published by Amalgamated Press, (London, 1926-1927)

The London Bootblack, 1882. Artist: Jules Bastien-Lepage
The London Bootblack, 1882. Bastien-Lepage, Jules (1848-1884). Found in the collection of the Musee des Arts Decoratifs, Paris

Irascible English tourist, Paris, 1900. An illustration from Le Petit Journal, 20th May 1900

2920936; out of copyright

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In the bustling streets of c. 1901, an African American shoeshine boy stands tall, his determination shining through in this black and white photo. Reminiscent of the 18th-century shoe-black portrayed by Jacopo Amigoni, he carries on a tradition that spans centuries. Amidst the chaos of daily life, a conversation unfolds between two individuals. "I say Billy, " one man exclaims to the young shoeshine boy, "do you know why I'm doing this? Cause I'm going to run for Congress soon. " It is a moment frozen in time - a glimpse into the dreams and aspirations that drive us forward. The images captured by John Thomson tell stories of independence and resilience. In 1881, we see "The Independent Shoe-Black" standing proudly with his tools of trade. Four years earlier, another image portrays him again as an independent figure amidst the backdrop of Victorian society. A chromolithograph advertisement showcases our young protagonist diligently polishing a sailor's boots with Carrs Blackit shoe polish. His dedication to his craft shines through as he ensures every detail is perfect - perhaps mirroring his own aspirations for perfection in life. "Their First Smoke, " depicted in oil on canvas in 1889, shows us another side to this shoeshine boy's existence. He shares a quiet moment with friends while enjoying their first taste of adulthood - symbolizing both innocence lost and camaraderie gained. As we journey further back in time through engravings and photographs alike, we witness how this occupation has stood steadfast throughout history. From Wagner's engraved portrayal from 1739 to more recent black-and-white photos capturing moments like "Shine sir?" or Tete-a-Tete conversations around late-19th century England – these depictions remind us that even within societal changes lie constants rooted deep within human nature. This caption invites us to reflect upon not only the individual stories of these shoeshine boys but also the broader themes they represent.