Old black and white photos have a certain charm about them. But haven’t we all wondered how these old photographs would look if they were colorized? Whether it is those black and white photos of your grandparents or some famous historical picture, seeing them in color can be quite fascinating.
Mads Madsen, a 25-year-old digital artist from Denmark feels that same fascination and uses his talent to colorize old black and white historical photos. Here, we have shared some of the best works of the artist – a collection of 20 historical photos that have been beautifully and realistically colorized.
1. Desmond Thomas Doss, a United States Army corporal, who was given a Medal of Honor for carrying 75 wounded men to safety under heavy enemy fire during the Battle of Okinawa in 1945.
2. The great Helen Keller is seen here greeting Charlie Chaplin by feeling his features.
3. Two American soldiers showing off their personalized “Easter eggs” (artillery shells) before firing them.
4. Frederick Douglass, an escaped slave who went on to become a prominent activist, author, and public speaker.
5. David Attenborough, a noted English broadcaster and natural historian, seen here caressing a macaw around 1950-51.
6. Amelia Earhart, the first female aviator to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean.
7. A Native American chief with a feather headdress.
8. Nikola Tesla reading Roger Boskovich’s book ‘Theoria Philosophiae Naturalis’ at East Houston St., New York. Behind him is the spiral coil of his high-frequency transformer.
9. Two girls happily posing with their snow fort, 1910.
10. German and British soldiers taking a break during the Christmas Truce of 1914. It is said that almost 100,000 soldiers participated in this unofficial ceasefire where gifts were exchanged and officers swapped buttons and coats.
11. Jim Henson, creator of the Muppets, one of the most famous children shows of all time, seen here sitting with Ernie and Kermit the Frog.
12. The beautiful and talented British actress, Audrey Hepburn, best known for her roles in films like Roman Holiday (1953), Breakfast at Tiffany's (1961), and My Fair Lady (1964).
13. The late Paul Newman sharing a light moment with the evergreen Clint Eastwood.
14. Marilyn Monroe captured in a rare solemn moment after a party.
15. Albert Einstein laughing during a dinner party.
16. Buzz Aldrin, the second man on the moon. Here he is seen as commandant of the Air Force Test Pilot School in 1963.
17. George Orwell, a famous novelist, essayist, journalist, and critic. Incidentally, his real name was Eric Arthur Blair and the author used George Orwell as his pen name.
18. Theodore Roosevelt, the 26th President of the United States, holding his grandson, Kermit Roosevelt Jr., 1916.
19. Mark Twain, the famous American novelist who is best remembered as the author of The Adventures of Tom Sawyer (1876) and Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (1885).
