Street Scenes!
Mar 20, 2021
1 min read
I've been doing research for a new book and reading old, old newspapers. I'm talking about newspapers from the Gilded Age, late 19th Century. I love reading the help wanted ads, the ads, and the news stories. The cartoons on the front page of The New York World are often a mystery. But the June 1,1895 front page cartoon stopped me. I felt like I had seen it before....but how could that be? And then I realized it looked familiar for a reason. It looked so much like a black and white illustration for The Knish War on Rivington Street. Take a look at these two images....
and the street scene from my book:
This is such a fascinating glimpse into history! I love how the past echoes in unexpected ways, and comparing that 1895 cartoon to modern illustrations really shows how visual storytelling connects us across time. Thanks for sharing this discovery—it makes me want to explore more vintage newspapers. By the way, if you enjoy playing with visual styles, you might like this gradient generator for a modern digital twist.
really helpful and informative post, i enjoyed reading this. i often use an instagram downloader to save useful clips and tutorials for later reference.