16 Photos Of Famous People In The Past That Prove That Photoshop Actually Existed Centuries Ago

Photo editing programs have been a part of our lives for a very long time, far beyond the years you thought they started.

Jesse

Published in Nostalgia
22 Mar 2022

16 Photos Of Famous People In The Past That Prove That Photoshop Actually Existed Centuries Ago

Long before digital filters and one-click retouching, people were already finding ways to make portraits look a little more polished. This collection of historical photos shows that image editing did not begin with modern software, and some of the results are surprisingly familiar.

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From royalty to famous artists, these portraits reveal how much care went into shaping public images in the 19th and early 20th centuries. The comparisons are especially interesting because they show how photography and painting often worked together to create a more flattering version of reality.

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By the time you reach the final image, the connection between old-school retouching and modern Photoshop becomes hard to miss.

1. Here is Isabella II of Spain, born in 1830 and died in 1904

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2. The spouse of George V, named Mary of Teck (1867 — 1953)

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3. Here is Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon, the mother of Queen Elizabeth II (1900 — 2002)

Even these early portraits show how carefully image-making was handled.

4. Meet Princess Helena of the United Kingdom, born in 1846 and died in 1923

5. Here is Victoria, Princess Royal, German Empress, born in 1840 and died in 1901

6. Meet Charlotte of Belgium, born in 1840 and died in 1927

7. Here is Sophie of Württemberg, Queen of the Netherlands, born in 1818 and died in 1877

The contrast between the portraits and the painted versions is hard to ignore.

That “photoshop but centuries ago” shock feels similar to the Old Masters portraits that show the original influencer energy.

8. Meet Queen Victoria, born in 1819 and died in 1901

9. Here is Maria Christina of Austria, Queen Consort of Spain, born in 1858 and died in 1929

10. Meet the Princess Consort of Bulgaria, Maria Luisa of Bourbon-Parma, born in 1870 and died in 1899

11. Here is Grand Duchess Elena Vladimirovna of Russia (1882 — 1957)

12. Meet Princess Beatrice of the United Kingdom, Queen Victoria’s fifth daughter (1857 — 1944)

13. Here is Alexandra Feodorovna, the spouse of Nicholas II of Russia, born in 1872 and died in 1918

14. Meet Princess Alice of Battenberg, the mother-in-law of Queen Elizabeth II (1885 — 1969)

15. Here is Alexandra of Denmark, the spouse of Edward VII (1844 — 1925)

16. Meet Vincent van Gogh, born in 1853 and died in 1890

One can clearly note the difference between each photo. These images demonstrate that many things that appear new in our world today, including Photoshop, have been used for years and years.

Now that you know that photo editing goes way back, let us know your thoughts about this collection by leaving a comment down below.

Old tricks have always had a way of sticking around.

Want more “it couldn’t be real” visuals, check out 100 historical moments that prove the past was anything but boring.

16 Photos Of Famous People In The Past That Prove That Photoshop Actually Existed Centuries Ago

Jesse

1. Here is Isabella II of Spain, born in 1830 and died in 1904

2. The spouse of George V, named Mary of Teck (1867 — 1953)

3. Here is Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon, the mother of Queen Elizabeth II (1900 — 2002)

4. Meet Princess Helena of the United Kingdom, born in 1846 and died in 1923

5. Here is Victoria, Princess Royal, German Empress, born in 1840 and died in 1901

6. Meet Charlotte of Belgium, born in 1840 and died in 1927

7. Here is Sophie of Württemberg, Queen of the Netherlands, born in 1818 and died in 1877

8. Meet Queen Victoria, born in 1819 and died in 1901

9. Here is Maria Christina of Austria, Queen Consort of Spain, born in 1858 and died in 1929

10. Meet the Princess Consort of Bulgaria, Maria Luisa of Bourbon-Parma, born in 1870 and died in 1899

11. Here is Grand Duchess Elena Vladimirovna of Russia (1882 — 1957)

12. Meet Princess Beatrice of the United Kingdom, Queen Victoria’s fifth daughter (1857 — 1944)

13. Here is Alexandra Feodorovna, the spouse of Nicholas II of Russia, born in 1872 and died in 1918

14. Meet Princess Alice of Battenberg, the mother-in-law of Queen Elizabeth II (1885 — 1969)

15. Here is Alexandra of Denmark, the spouse of Edward VII (1844 — 1925)

16. Meet Vincent van Gogh, born in 1853 and died in 1890

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