Tuesday, June 12, 2012

Whistling Barefoot Boy with Apples

While  scouting cool stuff for my farm store, I found this classic vintage framed photo of a boy in overalls with a basket of apples. His lips are pursed - I guess he is whistling. It looks to me like a hand-colored  photograph.  In tiny white letters on the bottom left it says "Copyright 1901, Campbell Art Co, Elizabethtown NJ.  In the right-hand corner  it says 276, G.W. Wacce, Phila.  Perhaps Wacce is the photographer.

In an Internet search  I found a site devoted to the Campbell Art Co, and have sent them an inquiry; I'd love to know more about this image.
Posted by at
Labels: , ,

14 comments:

  1. UnknownJune 2, 2014 at 7:58 PM

    A friend has been searching for a photo like this that belonged to her grandmother. Have you found any more information about its origin? Would love to know more. Contact me at elkamins@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  2. Charlie HurdOctober 25, 2014 at 5:49 PM

    This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  3. UnknownJanuary 28, 2015 at 7:56 AM

    I have been searching for info on this print off and on for a couple years. I actually have what is nearly the same...but he is holding the basket and a fishing pole in the other arm....even the same road background...

    ReplyDelete
  4. Charlie HurdJanuary 29, 2015 at 4:23 AM

    Did you come across anything on it?

    ReplyDelete
  5. UnknownApril 3, 2016 at 6:38 AM

    Hello, I know this posting is kinda old, but do you know anything more about this piece? I came across this exact one but uncolored and am curious about it. I see there are other similar ones where the boy holds a fishing pole, but I cant find much info about this one.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Charlie HurdApril 3, 2016 at 9:45 AM

    I haven't found out anymore than is here about the one I have. I love the pic though.

    ReplyDelete
  7. BBMMay 6, 2016 at 9:40 AM

    I keep finding this info on the photo:

    “The Whistling Boy” (AKA “The Barefoot Boy” or “Apple Boy” [image variation]), after the original photograph by the famous listed pictorialist-photographer ‘Rudolf Eickemeyer, Jr.’ (American, 1862-1932) who was appointed art manager of the Campbell Art Studio on Fifth Avenue in 1900, with which he would remain intermittently until 1915. Incidentally, Eickemeyer, Jr. also won First Place in the Members’ Vote with “The Whistling Boy” (of nine prints shown) at the 1902 exhibit for The Camera Club of New York titled ‘Camera Club Members’ Competitive Print Exhibition’, held from May 1-15. The publisher info & inventory number, ‘© Campbell Art Co., Copyrighted 1901 by the Alfred S. Campbell Art Co., Elizabeth, N.J.’, appears printed lower left in the image area, and ‘© Campbell Art Co., Elizabeth, N.J.’, appears embossed lower right respectively next to the very tiny printed inventory number ‘108’ (Alternate Inventory #9751).

    It’s available here and there in different sizes, tinted and untinted, originally with empty basket and fishing pole, later with apples and lunch. I’ve seen it listed anywhere from $8 to $165, though I don’t know what it actually fetches when it sells.

    Hope this helps.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. AmandaSeptember 9, 2016 at 1:03 PM

      Thank you for posting this information. I have the boy with empty basket and fishing pole. It used to hang in my grandparents' home and I was always drawn to it, so I saved it. For the first time today, I took it out of the frame and noticed the copyright information at the bottom. I'm happy to know where it's from and a little history on it. I hope people will post more!

      Delete
    2. AmandaSeptember 9, 2016 at 1:04 PM

      Thank you for posting this information. I have the boy with empty basket and fishing pole. It used to hang in my grandparents' home and I was always drawn to it, so I saved it. For the first time today, I took it out of the frame and noticed the copyright information at the bottom. I'm happy to know where it's from and a little history on it. I hope people will post more!

      Delete
    3. UnknownApril 13, 2017 at 4:08 PM

      I have a copy. It was one of 2. I was told it was a post mortem photo. He was adorned with different items. The favorite version was picked by the family. If you look at his leg, it does appear to be supported. Somehow it became public and popular.

      Delete
    4. UnknownApril 17, 2021 at 3:00 PM

      You have one of the two copies because I have one and there is at least 100 I've seen in the last few days after j found the picture in my grandmother's basement and there lithographs,I'm sure the original painting is worth alot.Copyrighted 1901 by the Alfred S. Campbell Art Co., Elizabeth, N.J.’, appears printed lower left in the image area, and ‘© Campbell Art Co., Elizabeth, N.J.’, appears embossed lower right respectively next to the very tiny printed inventory number ‘108’ (Alternate Inventory #9751).

      Delete
  8. Annie PMarch 17, 2019 at 2:56 PM

    We just found it after moving. Our friend had given it to us. It was their grandparents. Ours has an original signature. Any idea what it's worth. This is very old.

    ReplyDelete
  9. UnknownJuly 14, 2019 at 4:03 PM

    I have the fishing pole with an empty basket. The Whistling Boy, purchased at Joseph Horne Co. in Pittsburgh, Pa. price back then, looks like $361.11? It's a large black with wood grain color frame 21 3/4" w x 25 1/2" tall, Print looks original, very old & around 16" x 20", approx. Any info on this size & frame? I'm afraid to take it out of frame as it's so old.

    ReplyDelete

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)