New Old Photo Finds

I spent last week in Door County, bumming around, staying with my aunt and my brother and sister-in-law, visiting galleries.  Since I've gotten home I haven't accomplished much except reading and working on family history.  But I did find some good things at my local consignment shop.

These two photos are are people I do not know.  They were photographic postal cards that I found in the big drawer filled with mixed cards.  Sometimes I buy old photos of strangers just because I like their expressions or their clothing.  I store them mixed in with my other photo reference pictures in a file box, and perhaps they'll make their way into a painting.  My first preference is family related imagery, since I get twice the enjoyment; I can think about the people and I can use their attitude and costume in my painting.  But sometimes I find photos like these that speak to me on another level.  The young brothers wear clothing that seems very strange and formal, and their expressions are so serious.  The men appealed to me because they seemed to be enjoying something together, something amusing, and I like their similar postures.  Two very different representations of men I only know through old postcards, bought for next to nothing.