A photograph of Joseph Lawende in 1899

[Abby Normal]

Are you referring to my last sentence?

you know exactly what im talking about but ill spell it out for you. why do you think the people in that photo look jewish?

[PRIVATE INVESTIGATOR 1]

omg. what are you talking about?

Are you referring to my last sentence?

[Abby Normal]

I was ridiculed for saying that it was generally obvious in Whitechapel in 1888 who was Jewish and who was not.

That wedding photograph illustrates my point.

It would have been obvious to both Schwarz and Lawende whether the man they were describing was a gentile or a Jew.

It is therefore inconceivable that either of them would suddenly have realised that their suspect was a Jew upon seeing him in the Seaside Home.

omg. what are you talking about?

[Herlock Sholmes]

How does Lawende look ‘Jewish’ in that photograph. He looks like an English gentleman to me.

[PRIVATE INVESTIGATOR 1]

Earlier this year I was delighted to receive from a descendant of Joseph Lawende a copy of a group photograph taken at the wedding of his daughter Rose to Isidore Goodman Samuel in 1899. Joseph can be seen on the right at the back, standing next to his wife Annie. The bridesmaid sitting in the centre at the front is Joseph's youngest daughter Ruby. I am most grateful to the owner of the photograph for permission to reproduce it here.

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I was ridiculed for saying that it was generally obvious in Whitechapel in 1888 who was Jewish and who was not.

That wedding photograph illustrates my point.

It would have been obvious to both Schwarz and Lawende whether the man they were describing was a gentile or a Jew.

It is therefore inconceivable that either of them would suddenly have realised that their suspect was a Jew upon seeing him in the Seaside Home.

[jason_c]

If I remember correctly any movement would blur the photograph. I know when I and my wife had a glass plate photo done a few years back that it required five-10 minutes. And again, being a formal photograph I don't know that smiling was encouraged by the photographer.

I recently read that smiling for photographs was a later trend. Most early photos do not show individuals grinning like cheshire cats. Probably due to the length of time it took to take a pic, having to remain completely still, and the cost of having to take another photograph.

[Sister Hyde]

Yes just like people used to keep the corpses at home untill the funerals, which is today almost not allowed I think, or just like open-casket funerals, today we find it very morbid, but it used to be the standard. Yes I'm wondering how the people would have looked if they were smiling and showing their teeth back then, what an official portrait that would have been!

[The Good Michael]

Just thinking that there were two others with Lawende, and coincidentally, there are 3 men in the picture.

Mike

[YankeeSergeant]

Photos

I don't think people smiled on pictures ever. and it was not only due the fact that they had to stand still for 10 minutes or so, but also because back then a picture was a serious portrait, like an official representation of the persons, far from the happy little memories pictures we take on our trips around the world to show how happy we are nowadays

Not only that which you are correct about but also look at the state of dental hygine inthe 1880s. It cost money for the photos adn as inthe the Lawende photo was primarily used as Sister , you point out, for formal occassions such as weddings and yes, funerals. Photos of the dearly departed were quite the rage in the Victorian era and I have seen a few. While we would consider it morbid, it was seen as a loving tribute back then.

[Mascara & Paranoia]

The only known man to have seen the Ripper (well, IMO ). And only, what, eleven (?) years after the sighting itself? Wow.

[Sister Hyde]

I don't think people smiled on pictures ever. and it was not only due the fact that they had to stand still for 10 minutes or so, but also because back then a picture was a serious portrait, like an official representation of the persons, far from the happy little memories pictures we take on our trips around the world to show how happy we are nowadays

[YankeeSergeant]

Height

Do we have any info on his height etc? They all seems so small!

Average height back then for men was approximately 5 feet eight inches.

[YankeeSergeant]

miles of smiles

I suppose with those old cameras, it was a bit difficult to hold a smile for the required length of time.

It seems to have been a spring wedding - plenty of blossom.

If I remember correctly any movement would blur the photograph. I know when I and my wife had a glass plate photo done a few years back that it required five-10 minutes. And again, being a formal photograph I don't know that smiling was encouraged by the photographer.

[KatBradshaw]

Do we have any info on his height etc? They all seems so small!

[DVV]

Fascinating indeed, the man who saw Jack the Ripper. Great Photo Chris.

all the best

Observer

Peux pas dire mieux ! Merci Chris.