Figure 1.--This photograph is of two Finnish twins, Aino and Osmo Kolkki. We know that they were born on April 18, 1903. They look to be about 4-5 years old. The girl, Aino, is wearing a checkered dress and the boy a fashionable sailor suit. At the time, Finland was still part of the Russian Empire. Note Osmo's cropped hair. Portraits of varefoot children were fairly common in America, we see them less commony in Europe. This looks to be a snapshot rather than a studio portrait.

This photograph is of two Finnish twins, Aino and Osmo Kolkki. We know that they were born on April 18, 1903. This looks to be a snapshot rather than a studio portrait. The children look to be about 4-5 years old. The girl, Aino, is wearing a checkered dress and the boy a stylish sailor suit. At the time, Finland was still part of the Russian Empire. Note Osmo's cropped hair. Portraits of varefoot children were fairly common in America, we see them less commony in Europe. A reader writes, "It is true that barefoot portrait were unusual in Europe. Perhaps they were more common in Finland." We think the snap shor may have been taken at a summer vacatin home in the country. The Russians call them dacchas. Notice hiw sparsely furnished the room is. We think that the family's city him would have been more elaborately furnushed. And in summer out in the country, the children would be mpre likely to go barefoot.

Created: 11:33 PM 1/4/2009
Last updated: 2:21 AM 1/5/2009