Cultural Weekly empowers creativity only because it is empowered by you. This article was originally published in 2014 and is one of the most popular pieces of content in our history.
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One of our top 10 most read stories last year was our showcase of the work being done by digital artist Dana Keller. He, along with many other artists, have been taking old black and white images and bringing their subjects to life via various colorization techniques. While these colorized photos have proven to be both popular and controversial, I applaud them for sparking conversation and causing some to explore forgotten historical figures and subjects, where they would not have otherwise.
To further recognize this growing artistic specialty, please enjoy these 10 sets of images that have produced for me a wide array of emotions and brought new life to iconic figures and important moments:
Colorization of Albert Einstein, by Mads Madsen, AKA: Zuzahin.
Original photo taken in 1948 by Yousuf Karish.
Black “Teamsters” or “Wagoneers” colorized by Mads Madsen, AKA: Zuzahin.
Original photo taken in 1964. Photographer unknown. Courtesy of Library of Congress.
North Carolina country store, 1939. Colorization by Jordan J Lloyd.
Original photo taken by Dorthea Lange in 1939.
Dorothea Lange’s iconic image Migrant Mother. Colorization by Sanna Dullaway.
Colorization by Mads Madsen, AKA: Zuzahin.
Original photo taken in 1945. Photographer unknown.
Colorization by Dana Keller.
Women and children arrive at Auschwitz-Birkenau on May 27, 1944. Photographer unknown, but courtesy of the Auschwitz Album.
The grand kiss on V-Day. Original photo by Alfred Eisenstaedt. Colorization by Sanna Dullaway.
Colorization by Dana Keller
Original photo taken in 1946 at the Aquarium in New York. Photo: William Gottlieb.
Colorization by Mads Madsen, AKA: Zuzahin.
Original photo. Photographer unknown.
Colorization by Dana Keller.
Original photo by Warren Leffler.
