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Adolphe Smith (1830–1920)

British photographer. Born in London in 1830, he began his career as a journalist and writer. However, he soon became interested in photography and began experimenting with the medium.Created by: PICRYL - Public Domain Media Search EngineDated: 1830
From 'Street Life in London', 1877, by John Thomson and Adolphe Smith- (6960859488)
Adolphe Smith is perhaps best known for his work documenting the lives of the poor in London's East End. In the late 1800s, he collaborated with the journalist John Thomson to produce a series of books that combined text and photographs to create a vivid portrait of the poverty and hardship faced by many of the city's working class.

Smith's photographs are notable for their realism and attention to detail. He often captured everyday scenes of street life, such as children playing or workers going about their business. His images are also notable for their sympathetic portrayal of the people he photographed, which was unusual at a time when many photographers focused on sensationalism and shock value.

In addition to his work in documentary photography, Smith also experimented with other forms of photography, including portraiture and landscape photography. He continued to work in photography until his death in 1920.
31 Media in collectionpage 1 of 1
The Crawlers - Victorian era public domain image

The Crawlers - Victorian era public domain image

From 'Street Life in London', 1877, by John Thomson and Adolphe Smith:..“But old age, and want of proper food and rest, reduces them to a lethargic condition which can scarcely be preferable to death itself. It... More

An Old Clothes Shop, Seven Dials

An Old Clothes Shop, Seven Dials

From 'Street Life in London', 1877, by John Thomson and Adolphe Smith..."The accompanying photograph represents a second-hand clothes shop in a narrow thoroughfare of St. Giles, appropriately called Lumber Cour... More

Street Advertising (5795814747)

Street Advertising (5795814747)

From 'Street Life in London', 1877, by John Thomson and Adolphe Smith: 'There is a certain knack required in pasting a bill on a rough board, so that it shall spread out smoothly, and be easily read by every ... More

Old Furniture coat of arms - Victorian era public domain image

Old Furniture coat of arms - Victorian era public domain image

From 'Street Life in London', 1877, by John Thomson and Adolphe Smith:.. At the corner of Church Lane, Holborn, there was a second-hand furniture dealer, whose business was a cross between that of a shop and a ... More

A Convicts Home (6169602486)

A Convicts Home (6169602486)

From 'Street Life in London', 1877, by John Thomson and Adolphe Smith. "In Drury Lane there is a house which has been celebrated for more than a century. It was a "cook-shop" in Jack Sheppard’s time. This not... More

London Boardmen (6846616533)

London Boardmen (6846616533)

From 'Street Life in London', 1877, by John Thomson and Adolphe Smith: “I had, for instance, an occasion of discussing with two boardmen who seemed worthy of a better position. The first had been trained as a ... More

From 'Street Life in London', 1877, by John Thomson and Adolphe Smith- (6897213773)

From 'Street Life in London', 1877, by John Thomson and Adolphe Smith-...

From 'Street Life in London', 1877, by John Thomson and Adolphe Smith: “The men employed on the water carts work according to the state of the weather. Thus, in summer under a hot dry wind, they emerge at earl... More

From 'Street Life in London', 1877, by John Thomson and Adolphe Smith. (6257456398)

From 'Street Life in London', 1877, by John Thomson and Adolphe Smith....

From 'Street Life in London', 1877, by John Thomson and Adolphe Smith. "Italian ice men constitute a distinct feature of London life, which, however, IS generally Ignored by the public at large, so far as It’s... More

"Hookey Alf" of Whitechapel - Victorian era public domain image

"Hookey Alf" of Whitechapel - Victorian era public domain image

From 'Street Life in London', 1877, by John Thomson and Adolphe Smith:..“Thus in the photograph before us we have the calm undisturbed face of the skilled artisan, who has spent a life of tranquil, useful labou... More

From 'Street Life in London', 1877, by John Thomson and Adolphe Smith- (6516045387)

From 'Street Life in London', 1877, by John Thomson and Adolphe Smith-...

From 'Street Life in London', 1877, by John Thomson and Adolphe Smith: "Jack stood charged with cutting and wounding the donkeys with a heavy flail-like instrument. At the request of the magistrate the instru... More

From 'Street Life in London', 1877, by John Thomson and Adolphe Smith- (6960859488)

From 'Street Life in London', 1877, by John Thomson and Adolphe Smith-...

From 'Street Life in London', 1877, by John Thomson and Adolphe Smith: "At the corner of Church Lane, Holborn, there was a second-hand furniture dealer, whose business was a cross between that of a shop and a... More

From 'Street Life in London', 1877, by John Thomson and Adolphe Smith (5600367314)

From 'Street Life in London', 1877, by John Thomson and Adolphe Smith ...

From 'Street Life in London', 1877, by John Thomson and Adolphe Smith …Despite the traditional hoarse voice, rough appearance, and quarrelsome tone, cab-drivers are as a rule reliable and honest men, who can ... More

From 'Street Life in London', 1877, by John Thomson and Adolphe Smith- (6875418204)

From 'Street Life in London', 1877, by John Thomson and Adolphe Smith-...

From 'Street Life in London', 1877, by John Thomson and Adolphe Smith: “But old age, and want of proper food and rest, reduces them to a lethargic condition which can scarcely be preferable to death itself. I... More

“Strawberries. All ripe! All ripe!” - The Street Fruit Trade (6808007219)

“Strawberries. All ripe! All ripe!” - The Street Fruit Trade (68080072...

From 'Street Life in London', 1877, by John Thomson and Adolphe Smith: "The season for strawberries, the most delicious of English fruits, has ended. This delicacy was brought in numberless barrow- loads to th... More

The Temperance Sweep - Victorian era public domain image

The Temperance Sweep - Victorian era public domain image

From 'Street Life in London', 1877, by John Thomson and Adolphe Smith. This chapter recounts the life story of John Day, which begins:..'Born in Lambeth, the son of a road-mender, John Day was sent out to work ... More

Dealers in Fancy-Ware - Public domain portrait drawing

Dealers in Fancy-Ware - Public domain portrait drawing

From 'Street Life in London', 1877, by John Thomson and Adolphe Smith:..'The accompanying photograph represents a street group gathered round a dealer whose barrow is one of the most attractive I have seen duri... More

The Wall Worker, 1877, by John Thomson and Adolphe Smith
Adolphe Smith - Public domain portrait photograph

Adolphe Smith - Public domain portrait photograph

A black and white photo of a man with a long beard. Public domain portrait photograph, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description

From 'Street Life in London', 1877, by John Thomson and Adolphe Smith (5582588406)

From 'Street Life in London', 1877, by John Thomson and Adolphe Smith ...

From 'Street Life in London', 1877, by John Thomson and Adolphe Smith The class of Nomades with which I propose to deal makes some show of industry. These people attend fairs, markets, and hawk cheap ornaments... More

From 'Street Life in London', 1877, by John Thomson and Adolphe Smith (5780910909)

From 'Street Life in London', 1877, by John Thomson and Adolphe Smith ...

From 'Street Life in London', 1877, by John Thomson and Adolphe Smith The subject of the accompanying illustration is a vendor of cough lozenges and healing ointment. He was originally a car-driver employed b... More

The Wall Worker (6189266754) - Victorian era public domain image

The Wall Worker (6189266754) - Victorian era public domain image

From 'Street Life in London', 1877, by John Thomson and Adolphe Smith. “…The" wall working" or fence working, described by Parker as a " fine property," is a system of cheap advertising. Where a portion of a w... More

London Cabmen

London Cabmen

From 'Street Life in London', 1877, by John Thompson and Adolphe Smith …Despite the traditional hoarse voice, rough appearance, and quarrelsome tone, cab-drivers are as a rule reliable and honest men, who can b... More

From 'Street Life in London', 1877, by John Thomson and Adolphe Smith- (6947915104)

From 'Street Life in London', 1877, by John Thomson and Adolphe Smith-...

From 'Street Life in London', 1877, by John Thomson and Adolphe Smith: "The removal of dust and refuse from the houses of the metropolis is a task which devolves on the officers of the various parishes. Altho... More

Jardin Huber cropped - A drawing of a man standing in a garden

Jardin Huber cropped - A drawing of a man standing in a garden

Français : Le jardin de l’horticulteur Huber Public domain photograph of cactus plant, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description

Covent Garden Flower Women

Covent Garden Flower Women

From 'Street Life in London', 1877, by John Thompson and Adolphe Smith …How different is the Covent Garden of to-day, with its bustle and din, its wealth and pauperism, its artifices, its hot-house flowers and ... More

Public Disinfectors (5754653640)

Public Disinfectors (5754653640)

From 'Street Life in London', 1877, by John Thomson and Adolphe Smith ...While reducing the general death-rate, our recent sanitary legislation has called into existence a class of men who must of necessity b... More

Recruiting Sergeants

Recruiting Sergeants

From 'Street Life in London', 1877, by John Thompson and Adolphe Smith "Recruiting in London is almost exclusively circumscribed to the district stretching between the St. George's Barracks, Trafalgar Square, a... More

Black Jack Poster from London School of Economics collection

Black Jack Poster from London School of Economics collection

From 'Street Life in London', 1877, by John Thomson and Adolphe Smith:.. Jack stood charged with cutting and wounding the donkeys with a heavy flail-like instrument. At the request of the magistrate the instrum... More

Covent Garden Labourers (6240003617)

Covent Garden Labourers (6240003617)

From 'Street Life in London', 1877, by John Thomson and Adolphe Smith. “…the accompanying photograph represents a group of labourers who are in the service of Mr. Dickson, the well-known florist. Their busine... More

November Effigies (6833391028) - Victorian era public domain image

November Effigies (6833391028) - Victorian era public domain image

From 'Street Life in London', 1877, by John Thomson and Adolphe Smith: "The accompanying photograph is that of a nondescript guy, somewhat clumsily built up by a costermonger who lives in the south-east of Lo... More

Sufferers from the floods (5754652084)

Sufferers from the floods (5754652084)

From 'Street Life in London', 1877, by John Thomson and Adolphe Smith ...The sufferings of the poor in Lambeth, and in other quarters of the Metropolis, caused by the annual tidal overflow of the Thames, have ... More