Racist, genre scene showing an African American boy eating watermelon for his dinner. He smiles, sits cross-legged on a wooden crate and has his right hand plunged into the flesh of one half of a watermelon. He looks slightly toward his right and wears a pork pie hat; long-sleeve, collarless shirt; and ragged pants. Seeds run along the side of his slightly outstretched right foot. The untouched second half of the watermelon rests next to him to his right. The crate contains writing that reads: #888/Stmp/Handle Carefully/Keeb Dry. A backdrop depicting panel molding along the bottom of a wall is visible in the background., Title from list of 70 titles printed on verso by printer E. Perry., Name of photographer printed on mount., Date inferred from style of mount and active dates of photographer/publisher., Printed on mount: Charleston & Vicinity., Yellow mount with rounded corners., Manuscript note written on verso, upper edge: Lukin., Gift of David Long., Frank A. Nowell began work as a photographer in Charleston in 1870. In 1880, he purchased the Charleston negatives and studio of Civil War photographer George N. Barnard. Nowell was active until 1890.
Creator
Nowell, F. A.
Date
[ca. 1870]
Location
Library Company of Philadelphia | Print Department stereo - misc. photo. - Nowell [P.2018.16.10]