john krimmel

john kimmel
Originally uploaded by Daily Assumption.

Found this artist while hunting for images of Philadelphia. Born in Germany, moved to the US, studied back in Germany, and then settled in Phily to live out his life from 1812-183? His interiors have countless details of the period, such as books and newspapers in pubs for the customers to read, almanacs hanging from door ways. Chalk calendars on walls, Makeshift chairs from stumps. Toy boats for children's presents reminded me that Birthdays werne't celebrated until Mid 1800's. Thinking back to my birthdays and the incident at McDonalalds with John giving me a toy I already owned and me trying to give it to Lang, I started looking up some things about childrens toys of the era. Haven't come up with much yet but I'm sure something will turn up.
You start to get a real appreciation for these people working on a film about them. YOu start to hold reproduction objects and think how big their hands were, how strong they were, how they spent their time. You learn about their money and how everyone who wanted to survive had to be a shrewd bussiness person. I say person because of the fact that women in that period were running businesses and not only ones tha seemed gender specific. There are records from Williamsburg of women blacksmiths, coopers, Tavern Owners, Merchantile Store owners, and even an import/export trader. Thinking about their days, their worries and concerns you start to realize why they talked with such fervor and carefully crafted arguments. They had time while working with a fire, or a shovel to form full opinions. Their petty differences seemed unimportant due to the natural need of each other to survive. Today if you have an argument with your butcher you go to Kroger instead of Walmart, back then you nad to settle the differences of not have meat. Is it romantic, no, but at least it wasn't false.