Welcome to the third edition of the top 15 most popular colorized historical photos posted on the HistoryColored Instagram account! This is our yearly article that reveals which colorizations received the most likes throughout the year. As always make sure to follow the links to the talented artists that spent many hours researching and colorizing the photographs featured below!
Please note that the cut-off for featuring in the top 15 was October 30th, 2022, and no posts from November and December will be included.
15. Colorization of a man riding a monowheel, 1931
Colorized by @jdvcolours
A man photographed riding a 1931 Cislaghi Motoruota monowheel vehicle on a dirt path in the Netherlands while people look on. Photograph taken in the 1930s.
This colorization by James D. Vorster was shared on HistoryColored in August 2023 and amassed over 35,000 likes since then making it the 15th most popular photo shared on the HistoryColored Instagram page this year. This is the first time a piece by JDVColours has been featured in the “Top 15 Most Popular Colorized Photos” series.
Follow and see more colorizations from James D. Vorster: Instagram, Twitter, Website
14. Colorized photo of tennis players smoking, 1932
Colorized by @sebcolorisation
Tennis players smoking a cigarette after a match. Photograph taken in 1932.
This colorization by Sébastien de Oliveira was posted on May 26th and received over 35,000 likes over the course of the year, making it the 14th most popular colorization of the year. This is Sébastien’s second appearance in the most popular Instagram list, having previously colorized the most popular colorization of 2022!
Follow and see more colorizations from Sébastien de Oliveira: Instagram
13. Colorized Mugshot of James Hargreaves Jones, 1930s
Colorized by @historycolored
Mugshot of James Hargreaves Jones, a criminal based in Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom, who was arrested for begging and burglary in the 1930s.
Posted on August 28th, this colorized photo received over 37,000 likes making it the 13th most popular colorization shared on the HistoryColored Instagram in 2023.
12. Colorization of a man riding a bicycle carrying soba noodles, 1935
Colorized by @jdvcolours
A Japanese man photographed riding a bicycle while carrying soba noodles on his shoulder in Tokyo, Japan in 1935.
The second appearance on this list for James D. Vorster, this colorization is the 12th most popular of 2023, receiving over 37,000 likes since it was posted in January.
Follow and see more colorizations from James D. Vorster: Instagram, X, Website
11. Colorized photo of Wooden Leg with a rifle, 1927
Colorized by @julius.colorization
Wooden Leg (Kâhamâxéveóhtáhe), photographed holding a rifle at Northern Cheyenne Reservation, Montana in 1927.
Appearing in previous editions more times than any other artist, Julius Backman Jääskeläinen returns again in 2023 for his eleventh colorization in the “Top 15 Most Popular Colorized Photos” of the year series. His first on this year’s list, this photo received over 41,000 likes after it was posted on July 23rd, 2023.
Follow and see more colorizations from Julius Backman Jääskeläinen: Instagram, Facebook
10. Colorization of J. Robert Oppenheimer, 1958
Colorized by @lorenzofolli_history_in_color
Portrait of “The Father of the Atomic Bomb” J. Robert Oppenheimer taken in 1958 by Philippe Halsman.
Posted on July 21st, 2023, this post received over 41,000 likes, making it the 10th most liked colorized photo shared on the HistoryColored Instagram page. This is Lorenzo Folli’s third year in a row appearing in the series!
Follow and see more colorizations from Lorenzo Folli: Instagram, Facebook, Twitter
9. Colorized Photo of explorer Robert Peary, circa 1908
Colorized by @polar_history_in_colour
American explorer Robert Peary on the deck of the SS Roosevelt in c. 1908 before setting sail on an expedition to reach the North Pole.
Peary is best known for, in April 1909, leading an expedition that claimed to be the first to have reached the geographic North Pole. However, it is speculated by polar explorers and historians that he did not actually reach the pole but came within 60 miles (97km). There is also debate among polar historians as to whether Peary actually believed he reached the North Pole or if he deliberately lied.
This colorization by Ross Day was shared on the HistoryColored page on July 2nd, and received over 45,000 over the remainder of the year, making it the 9th most liked colorization of 2023.
Follow and see more colorizations from Ross Day: Instagram, YouTube, TikTok
8. Colorized Photo of Bill Clinton meeting John F. Kennedy, 1963
Colorized by @jsk.colorization
Future 42nd President of the United States, Bill Clinton, at the age of 17, shaking hands with the incumbent 35th President of the United States, John F. Kennedy, during a visit of the American Legion Boys Nation to the White House in 1963.
This piece by J. Kim was posted on July 31st and received over 51,000 likes, making it the 8th most popular colorization shared on the HistoryColored Instagram page.
Follow and see more colorizations from J. Kim: Instagram, Twitter, YouTube
7. Colorization of a new father meeting his triplets, 1946
Colorized by @jsk.colorization
New father Arris Poulos passes out when he meets his triplets for the first time in New York City in 1946.
J. Kim appears for the second time on this list with the 7th most popular colorized photo, which was shared on July 26th and received over 54,000 likes in the remaining months of the year.
Follow and see more colorizations from J. Kim: Instagram, Twitter, YouTube
6. Colorized Mugshot of Thomas Orange, 1930s
Colorized by @historycolored
Mugshot of Thomas Orange, a criminal based in Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom, who was arrested for larceny (theft) in the 1930s.
This colorization shared on August 18th, 2023 received over 61,000 likes, making it the 6th most popular post shared on the HistoryColored Instagram in 2023.
5. Colorization of miners in a coal mine elevator, 1900
Colorized by @color_byangelina
Miners of the Charbonnagge de Mariemont-Bascoup crammed into a coal mine elevator after a day of work. Photograph taken in Belgium in c. 1900.
Appearing 5th in the top 15 most popular colorized photos of 2023 is this work by Angelina Karpunina, which was shared on May 18th and received over 64,000 likes in the year. This is Angelina’s third year appearing in the series!
Follow and see more colorizations from Angelina Karpunina: Instagram, Twitter
4. Colorization of teenagers at a party, 1947
Colorized by @sebcolorisation
Teenagers at a party in Tulsa, Oklahoma, in 1947, photographed by Nina Leen.
The 4th most popular colorization shared on the HistoryColored Instagram in 2023 is this piece by Sébastien de Oliveira which received over 66,000 likes since it was shared on April 20th.
Follow and see more colorizations from Sébastien de Oliveira: Instagram
3. Colorized Photo of a messenger pigeon released from a port hole, 1918
Colorized by @timcolorization
A messenger pigeon being released from a port hole in the side of a British Mark V tank of the 10th Battalion, Tank Corps. Photograph taken near Albert, France on the 9 August 1918 during the Battle of Amiens (1918).
This photograph colorized by Timothée Moreau is the 3rd most liked post on the HistoryColored Instagram page. The colorization received over 69,000 likes after it was posted on January 7th, 2023.
Follow and see more colorizations from Timothée Moreau: Instagram, Behance
2. Colorization of Robert F. Kennedy at a drive-in, 1960
Colorized by @sebcolorisation
Robert F. Kennedy stopping for a meal at a drive-in in Bluefield, West Virginia during the campaign for his brother John F. Kennedy to become the 1960 Democratic presidential nominee.
Appearing for the third time in this article is Sébastien de Oliveira with the 2nd most popular colorized photo of the year. This post received over 91,000 likes from September when it was posted until the end of the year.
Follow and see more colorizations from Sébastien de Oliveira: Instagram
1. Colorized Photo of the train wreck at Montparnasse Station, 1895
Colorized by @sebcolorisation
The iconic photograph of the train wreck at Montparnasse Station in Paris, France on the 22 October 1895.
The train overran a buffer stop and smashed through a window due to the driver approaching the station at too fast a speed. Surprisingly, there was only 1 death as a result of this disaster, a woman outside the station was killed by falling masonry.
Taking the top spot for the second year in a row is a piece of work by Sébastien de Oliveira! This iconic photograph colorized received over 110,000 likes after it was shared on the HistoryColored Instagram page on July 25th.
Follow and see more colorizations from Sébastien de Oliveira: Instagram
Featured image by Angelina Karpunina
Be sure to follow all of the colorizers featured in this list!
RELATED ARTICLE: Top 15 Most Popular Colorized Photos of 2022 – Instagram Edition
One Response
Looks really great. Love the photos.