Postcard collectors are familiar with an entire range of risque and suggestive images that were popular in the early years of the 20th Century.
Some of them have been shared by me in other articles or postcard stories.
Invitation to Some Hanky-Panky in Utica - 1911
Recently, I found an unusual picture containing a couple in an awkward position.
The woman is barely supported by the stone gate, and has thrown back her head in a way unlikely to improve her balance.
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Where is this man's other arm?
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Comments: 38
Well, anything is possible out there in the woods...
The woman's a bit weird. Something about her proportions isn't right.
Legs are too short, dear Aniko... like those of a dwarf. :-)
Blessings and best wishes - S.
I can understand that some folks might lose a sense of proportion or propriaty "out in the woods".
But, this poor woman appears to have lost the use of her limbs.
You know, Peter, you have a lot of gorgeous cards and images. This one, however, is profoundly distrurbing.
Oh, dear... disturbing is right!
"Profoundly" disturbing, Stephanie?
I think it might be tasteless, but I did not find it terrible.
Peter, I'm not surprised you feel that way, but for me, as a woman, I found it very disturbing. Not because I equate it with rape, but because the expression and body language carry forward the age old stereotypes about women, because the posture and facial expression (and propotions) appear unnatural.
Something deliberately disturbing does not bother me as much as this card that appears intent to depict harmless dalliance but looks so unhealthy to my eyes.
On the other hand, I'm a product of my time and not theirs.
"...the expression and body language carry forward the age old stereotypes about women, because the posture and facial expression (and propotions) appear unnatural."
I can appreciate that, Stephanie.
The woman appears giddy, helpless, and ornamental.
It is the "helpless" part that is frightening, Peter.
While the subject is humorous and comical on one level, it is not amusing to a woman who has ever found herself fending off an aggressive suitor that she thought she could trust.
"...it is not amusing to a woman who has ever found herself fending off an aggressive suitor that she thought she could trust."
I see your point, Mary Louise.
This may have been the concern that Stephanie was making.
This gave me my first out-loud laugh of the morning. Thanks, Peter!
I thought that it might give rise to some very funny comments, Kris.
And, it did.
I love the way they get all dressed up to go walking in the woods:)
From the data of hundreds of vintage postcards, I believe that much courtship was conducted in good clothes - and in natural settings.
These are the famous conjoined twins Ed and Mabel Farley of Birmingham, Alabama.
"These are the famous conjoined twins Ed and Mabel Farley of Birmingham, Alabama."
Did you ever learn what happened to poor Ed and Mabel, Vicky?
his other arm is around her waist you can just barely see his hand
I did not see his hand until you mentioned it, Ryan - and thought it might be in another place.
Perhaps he is ticklng her.
My guess was also that he's tickling her, and the artist overestimated his (or her) ability to reflect the response.
Wild thang, you make my heart sang,
You make everythang....
groovy
Chauncey's ventriloquism act was perfected in the far woods behind his summer home years before the "wedding."
This had not occurred to me, Peregrine, but it is the most likely interpretation of the picture.
Poor Chauncey still had to learn how to balance this unusually-sized dummy on his knee for the duration of the act.
I have got to say that that's the most contorted courting position I've ever seen. And the comments here adding captions are hilarious. Heh, heh! Ron's got me looking in my iTunes file to see if I have that in mp3 form.
Hmmm! I think we know why their both smiling! :D
Well, we might if we knew where the hands were. :-)
HA HA!! Well, let's leave that to the imagination! :)
It's not a stone wall, it's a portal to another dimension. He has just brought this woman and promised to "send" her to the place of fantasy, and she completely misunderstands.
In chapter two, she will sprout wings.
(This is Fantasy Scenario B, since Peregrine stole the more obvious one.)
"In chapter two, she will sprout wings."
Then, the poor thing will no longer need to be supported by her odd legs.
actually if you look closely his hand is on her waist. but the speculating is a lot more fun.
You are correct, and sharp-eyed, CC.
I liked the speculation a few boxes above!
Ooh er... Reminds me of the postcards on Blackpool prom - the ones parents tell their kids not to look at (well, I heard them telling me...)
Reminds me of the postcards on Blackpool prom - the ones parents tell their kids not to look at (well, I heard them telling me...)
"Naughty" cards, of which this is a tame example, have been around since the earliest postcards.
This is a very interesting postcard, Peter, and could be very valuable for classroom discussion about gender and history, and power.
I teach in a Middle School, however, so I won't be able to use it in my classroom.
I hope that others find the vintage postcards both entertaining and educational, Honore.