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20 Colorized Photos of Victorian Couples From the 1840s

Vintage Photos History May 20, 2025

Last Updated on May 20, 2025 by Matt Staff

The 1840s were marked by both the dawn of photography as well as a moment when Victorian courtship rituals were captured for the very first time. Through the striking process of modern colorization, these 20 colorized photos are able to bring new life to an era long since passed us by.

1. It’s easy to forget just how long they had to hold these expressions for

A sepia-toned vintage photograph of a serious-looking man seated next to a woman standing with her arm resting on his shoulder, both dressed in formal 19th-century attire. The woman wears a bonnet and a dark dress.
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2. They nailed that serious smolder look

A vintage photograph shows a woman in a patterned dress and bonnet standing beside a seated man in a dark suit and cravat. They both look directly at the camera with serious expressions.
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3. Love the beard there, buddy

A vintage photograph of a seated couple from the 1800s; the woman wears a light dress with ruffles and a scarf, while the man wears a suit with a plaid vest. Both have serious expressions and period-appropriate hairstyles.
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4. The three piece suit of the olden days, to be sure

A vintage, colorized portrait of a man in a dark suit and bowtie seated beside a woman in a striped, high-neck dress. Both have serious expressions and are set against an ornate, decorative frame.
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5. Why so serious?

A sepia-toned portrait of a serious-looking man and woman in 19th-century attire, sitting side by side. The man wears a suit with a vest, and the woman wears a dark dress with lace trim and patterned bodice.
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6. Her necklace must’ve went on to be a beautiful family heirloom

A vintage portrait of a young woman and man in formal 19th-century attire, seated closely together and facing the camera, framed by an oval border.
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7. Love the matching kind of body language we have going on here

A vintage photograph of a serious-looking man and woman in formal 19th-century attire, sitting side by side. The photo has an ornate frame along the edge.
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8. I just wonder what they were discussing beforehand

A vintage portrait of a woman and a man in 19th-century attire. The woman wears a dark dress with buttons and a white collar, while the man wears a suit and bow tie. They sit closely together, the man's arm around her shoulder.
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9. Lovely goatee there, man

A vintage photograph of a serious-looking woman and man sitting side by side. Both wear formal 19th-century clothing; the woman is in a dark dress with a white bow, and the man is in a suit with a cravat.
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10. They let the kid be a part of their picture how sweet

A vintage portrait of a woman and man sitting with a young boy standing between them, holding a small basket. All three wear formal 19th-century clothing and face the camera with calm expressions.
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11. That little baby seems just a little bit drained of energy

A vintage photograph of a man and woman in formal 19th-century attire seated together, with the woman holding a baby dressed in a gown on her lap. All three face the camera with neutral expressions.
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12. Definitely a serious-looking couple here

A vintage portrait shows a man and a woman seated side by side, both wearing 19th-century clothing. The man wears a dark suit and bow tie, while the woman wears a blue dress with a floral headpiece and a ribbon at her neck.
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13. That particular beard style was so common back then

A vintage photograph of a serious-looking woman and man dressed in dark 19th-century clothing, seated side by side against a plain background. The woman wears a dress with a white collar and necklace; the man has a beard and mustache.
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14. The blue three-piece suits were where it’s at

A vintage portrait of a man and woman in formal 19th-century attire sitting side by side, both with serious expressions and looking at the camera. The photo appears colorized and slightly faded.
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15. Yet another example of the chinstrap beard at work

A woman in a patterned dress stands beside a seated man in formal 19th-century attire, both posing for a vintage portrait with neutral expressions against a blue background in an arched frame.
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16. Love the unique flair to their outfits

A vintage portrait of a man and woman in 19th-century attire; the man wears a fringed jacket and the woman a white dress with a bow. Both are seated and looking directly at the camera with serious expressions.
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17. They don’t look super pleased

A vintage portrait shows a man and a woman sitting side by side. Both wear formal 19th-century clothing; the man has a dark suit, and the woman wears a dark dress with a white collar. The photo has visible age marks and spots.
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18. This guy’s got the thousand-yard-stare down

A vintage photograph of a man with sideburns in a suit and bow tie seated beside a woman in a dark dress with a white collar, her hand resting on his shoulder. Both have serious expressions and are posing for a formal portrait.
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19. A couple of lovely, elegant outfits here

A vintage photograph of a woman in a checked dress and a man in a suit standing side by side. The man has his arm linked with the woman's, and both face the camera against a plain backdrop.
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20. Interesting choice with tucking the hand into the jacket here

A vintage photograph shows a seated man in a dark suit with his arm around a woman in a long dark dress, both looking directly at the camera with neutral expressions.
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Explore more vintage Victorian-Age content:

For a broader look at the era’s bustle beyond the parlor, wander through these 20 Colorized Victorian Photos Bring the Past to Life (1837-1901). Also check out, 20 Images That Show Victorian-Age Style (1830-1900).

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