Fragments of history: Interesting and rare retro photographs of Europe (21 photos)

Here is a selection of unique photographs that capture everyday life, architecture and cultural features of Europe in the 20th century. Each image has been carefully colorized to give it new life and immerse the viewer in the atmosphere of that time.





Preparing the tackle. Etretat, Normandy, France, 1904.



Notice the size of the net mesh, the fish they caught were not small... Switzerland, 1943.





Photographer: Werner Bischof

Agricultural work. Austria-Hungary, 1904.



A couple of clochards, Marcel and Melanie. Paris, 1950. 27 years of married life... on the streets of Paris. Not in a house, not in comfort, but under the open sky, among the cobblestone streets and the noise of the Seine. The French call vagrants and homeless people clochards.



Photographer: Robert Doisneau

Helga Goebbels with Adolf Hitler's dog, 1937. This photo shows Helga Goebbels, the eldest daughter of Joseph and Magda Goebbels, with Adolf Hitler's dog Blondi. The German Shepherd was a constant companion of the Fuhrer and often appeared next to the Goebbels family, both at official meetings and in everyday life. The propaganda minister had 6 children, all of whom he and his wife took to the next world when the Red Army entered Berlin.



Street violinist. Madrid, 1933.



Photographer: Alfonso Sanchez Portela

Washerwomen along a canal in Milan, 1966.



Photographer: Ferdinando Scianna

Milan's canals still remembered the times when life flowed next to the water - literally. Here they washed clothes, washed vegetables, rinsed rags, and sometimes even drew water for the house. And although it was already 1966, an era of change, for many women the open-air laundry remained a part of everyday life and communication. Pont des Arts. Paris, 1952.



Photographer: Marc Riboud.

The Pont des Arts is one of the most poetic places on the banks of the Seine. It connects the Louvre with the Institut de France, as well as the hearts of lovers, dreamers and connoisseurs of old Paris. Built at the beginning of the 19th century, this pedestrian bridge has become a symbol not only of architectural grace, but also of romantic culture: people loved to meet here, confess their feelings, draw and simply dream. In 2008, couples from all over the world began attaching so-called "love locks" to the railings of the Pont des Arts in Paris - a symbol of eternal fidelity and romantic connection. Often, the names of the lovers were left on the locks, and then the key was thrown into the waters of the Seine. Over the years, the number of locks has grown to tens of thousands. What began as a touching tradition has become a real threat to the bridge itself: in the summer of 2014, one of the sections of the fence could not bear the weight and collapsed. This story of “lock love” has become a reminder: even the most tender feelings can leave a lasting mark - both on hearts and on metal. Two women in a bathhouse. Sweden, 1900s.



Miners' locker room in Lens. France, 1954.



Photographer: Jean-Philippe Charbonnier.

Hanging helmets, torches, towels and other equipment on ropes or wires was not just a way to save space. It was a practical ritual born in conditions of constant dampness, cold and lack of space. Also, things dried better when hung and rodents did not get them. Catch on Lake Constance. Germany, 1928.



Lake Constance is like a drop of peace between Germany, Austria and Switzerland. It is not just a body of water, but a living intersection of cultures, centuries and borders. Situated in a picturesque valley in southern Germany, it has played the role of a transport route, a source of food and a place of pilgrimage for nature lovers since ancient times. From the shores of Lake Constance, there is a view of the Alps, ancient castles and villages surrounded by greenery. Watch seller, Italy, 1963.



Photographer: Kees Scherer

A newspaper boat hat was a trend on Soviet beaches. Fast, comfortable, stylish... in its own way. But wearing it with a suit and tie was already high Italian fashion. Electrification of the railway. Berlin, 1910s.



Two men in a Paris bar, circa 1950.



Photographer: Tore Johnson

It is common for Europeans of all social statuses to go to bars and pubs — not just to have a drink, but to spend time with friends, to discuss the day, politics or a football match over a glass of beer or wine. It is not just about drinks — it is about ritual, about communication, about a special atmosphere of comfort, where everyone feels at home. In different countries it may look different: English pubs with wooden benches and a fireplace, Irish taverns with live music, French cafes with strong espresso, German bars with a mug of foamy… But the essence is the same — here you are known, here you are part of something bigger than just an evening. Policewoman in Milan, 1983.



Deauville, France, 1917.



Photographer: Jacques Henri Lartigue

A man stands on an ice floe. The caption reads: "Mad Victor." Grisslehamn, Sweden, 1922.



Advertisement for a pet store. Paris, 1929.



A little girl hands a bouquet of lilies to a policeman. Paris, 1920.



A policeman issues a ticket for wearing a bikini on the beach in Rimini, Italy, 1957.