Object analysis: Historical Photographs
Analysis
Identification
What time period is it?
What is the location?
What is the main subject?
Composition
What is represented in the
photograph?
What is happening?
What are people doing?
Purpose
What does the photograph
represent?
What was the purpose of
the photograph?
Detail
What inferences can be
made from the detail of the
photograph?
What features in the
photograph have cultural or
historical significance?
Function
How well do you think the
photograph portrays the
culture and history of the
time period?
Historical Value
What story does the
photograph tell as an
historical document?
What questions for further
research does the
photograph prompt?
What cultural information
does the photograph
contain?
What I think
Evidence or further questions
Procedure: Guidelines for Worksheet Analysis
1. Identify your photograph by inspection
o Is there any written identification such as a title, signature, date, or comment in or on the photographic print?
o Where was the photograph found? What clues, if any, does the source give you?
o Using your knowledge or research information about the art or technology of photography, what do you discern may be the approximate date
of the photo? What visual clues does the photograph give about its date (clothing styles, prices)?
2. Identify the contents of the photographic composition by inspection. Consider the people in the photograph:
o What are they doing?
o What are they wearing?
o Where are they?
o How are they interacting?
o Is it a candid or posed composition?
3. Try to discern the purpose for the photograph:
o Was it personal, or to be published?
o Does the photograph illustrate an event, an action, an occupation, a celebration?
4. Analyze the composition. Consider the details of the photograph:
o Divide the composition into several sections and list the objects in each section.
o Classify the objects into types or categories (e.g., work and tools, family members and associated memorabilia).
o Decide which details give historical or cultural meaning to the photograph and describe in words.
5. Interpret/Evaluate the photograph
o What, if any, deductions, inferences, specific information, or generalizations can you make about the subject of the photograph and the
photograph as a whole as an historical document?
o What questions for further research does the photograph prompt?
o What cultural information does the photograph contain?