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Pigtail parade, Chinatown, San Francisco between 1896 and 1906.
Genthe, Arnold, 1869-1942
1 negative : safety ; 5 x 7 in. or smaller.

#Chinatown #SanFrancisco #Arnold #Genthe #Children #City&townlife #Play(Recreation) #photography

loc.gov/item/2018705002/

The image depicts four children playing a game known as "pik-a-pick" in what appears to be an urban street setting, likely from the late 19th or early 20th century. The black-and-white photograph shows two girls and two boys engaging in this traditional outdoor activity. One girl is pulling on a long rope that connects one of her feet with another child's foot; she has pigtails tied at the end of each ponytail, which are typical attire for children during that era. Another girl follows closely behind her, also wearing similar clothing and sporting pigtails. The boys have their own versions of this game: they hold sticks in a manner reminiscent of playing tug-of-war. They all wear coats with hoods and trousers suitable for cold weather, indicating the season might be fall or winter. Their faces display focused expressions as if concentrating on winning the game. The background features an urban environment with brick buildings partially visible through some form of barrier that separates them from a more open space. This suggests they are in a city's Chinatown area during this time period based on historical context and visual cues such as architecture style, attire, and overall atmosphere captured within Genthe's photograph series. Overall, it portrays an innocent moment of children enjoying their playtime amidst the bustling urban backdrop typical for that era.

Pigtail parade, Chinatown, San Francisco

The Library of Congress
#photography #children #city #sanfrancisco #play #chinatown #arnold #genthe

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