Anonymous Works: Occupational

Thursday, June 20, 2013

"The Song of the Sweep"

Circa 1880 cabinet card of a Hudson River Valley chimney sweep named John King.

On the back it reads:
John King, the subject of this photograph, is a familiar sight on the streets of all the Hudson River towns, and even as far as Buffalo. His peculiar song, or call, is original with him, and his powerful baritone can be heard from one end of a street to the other, as he wanders about in pursuit of his advocation.
We had some trouble to induce John to have his photograph taken in the act of giving his street cry, his idea being that he ought to sit for his picture in his "Sunday clothes," which, of course, would have spoiled the effect. This is the very reason why many a picture is condemned as "unnatural" by friends of the original. We all feel better and more comfortable in our every-day clothes, and often the best photographs are those made on the spur of the moment, "just as you are," without previous preparation.

C. H. GALLOP & CO.
MODERN PHOTOGRAPHERS
292 and 294 MAIN STREET, POUGHKEEPSIE, N. Y.

Available here.