Last year for the first time, we produced a top 15 list of the most popular colorized historical photos posted on the HistoryColored Instagram account. This article was a massive success receiving thousands of people interested in the images and events Instagram users deemed as the most interesting historical topics shared on the page. As a result, we have decided to make the most popular colorizations a yearly list on the website. Please be 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 the Roman Aqueduct of Segovia, c. 1904
Colorized by @julius.colorization
A street in the city of Segovia in Spain photographed in c. 1904. In the background, you can see the famous Roman Aqueduct of Segovia, which is believed to have been constructed between the 1st and 2nd Century AD.
German-American photographer Arnold Genthe took this photo during his travels around Europe at the beginning of the 20th century.
This colorization by Julius Backman Jääskeläinen received just over 26,400 likes in 2022, making it the 15th most popular photo of the year shared on the HistoryColored Instagram page
Follow and see more colorizations from Julius Backman Jääskeläinen: Instagram, Facebook
14. Colorized Photo of Pancho Villa and Emiliano Zapata, 1914
Colorized by @julius.colorization
Mexican Revolutionary Leaders Pancho Villa and Emiliano Zapata sat next to each other at Palacio Nacional in Mexico City, Mexico, on December 6th, 1914. Villa is sitting in the presidential chair.
The second colorization on this list by Julius Backman Jääskeläinen received just over 26,400 likes from when in was posted in February, making it the 14th most popular photo of the year shared on the HistoryColored Instagram page.
Follow and see more colorizations from Julius Backman Jääskeläinen: Instagram, Facebook
13. Colorization of Claude Monet in his garden, 1899
Colorized by @lorenzofolli_history_in_color
French painter Claude Monet photographed in his garden in Giverny, France, in 1899.
Posted on January 20th, 2022, this photo by Lorenzo Folli earned over 26,400 likes over the rest of 2022, becoming the 13th most-liked colorization shared on the HistoryColored Instagram.
Follow and see more colorizations from Lorenzo Folli: Instagram, Facebook, Twitter
12. Colorized Version of Josep Broz Tito’s Mugshot, 1928
Colorized by @julius.colorization
The Mugshot of Josep Broz Tito, President of Yugoslavia from 1953 to 1980, photographed in 1928 when he was arrested for communist activities.
Julius Backman Jääskeläinen‘s third colorization featured in the top 15 most popular colorized photos list; this received 27.9 thousand likes, making it the 12th most popular photo of the year shared on the HistoryColored Instagram page.
Follow and see more colorizations from Julius Backman Jääskeläinen: Instagram, Facebook
11. Colorization of a Navajo man dressed as Nayenezgáni, circa 1904
Colorized by @julius.colorization
A Navajo man photographed in c. 1904 dressed as Nayenezgáni, a mythical hero from Navajo mythology who, along with his brother Tobadzischini, rid the world of the Anaye (monsters from Navajo mythology). Photograph taken by Edward S. Curtis in Navajo Nation.
Claiming four of the first five places on the list, Julius Backman Jääskeläinen returns with this colorization of a Navajo man dressed as Nayenezgáni, receiving almost 29,000 likes and taking the spot as the 11th most-liked post shared on the HistoryColored Instagram in 2022.
Follow and see more colorizations from Julius Backman Jääskeläinen: Instagram, Facebook
10. Colorized Photo of a Soldier Selfie, circa 1940s
Colorized by @colourisedpieceofjake
US Army Air Force 2nd Lt. Quintin C. Aanenson takes a selfie in the mirror with his girlfriend. Photograph taken in c. 1940s.
This colorization by Colourised Piece of Jake ranks as the 10th most popular post on the HistoryColored Instagram page. It was posted on the 18th of May 2022 and gained over 29,100 likes in the last 6 months.
Follow and see more colorizations from Colourised Piece of Jake: Instagram, Facebook, Twitter
9. Colorized Photo of Lewis Nixon drinking wine, 1945
Colorized by @madsmadsen.ch
Lewis Nixon of the 101st Airborne Division grabbing some wine following a long night of drinking Hitler’s wine. Photograph taken in 1945.
This Mads Madsen colorization of Lewis Nixon posted on April 11th received 30.5 thousand likes, making it the 9th most liked Instagram post of 2022.
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8. Colorization of US Paratroopers with Mohawk-style haircuts, 1945
Colorized by @colourisedpieceofjake
US 17th Airborne Paratroopers, with their hair cut in Mohawk-style, being briefed for the next day’s Jump across the Rhine, Arras, France. Photograph taken on the 23rd of March 1945.
The second colorization in the top 15 by Colourised Piece of Jake was shared on the HistoryColored page in April and received 30,500 likes throughout the remainder of 2022.
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7. Colorized Photograph of Italian partisan Stefano Candela, 1944
Colorized by @julius.colorization
Italian partisan, Stefano Candela (known as ‘Eolo’), photographed in a village in Piedmont, a region of Italy that borders France and Switzerland. Photograph taken in October 1944.
Julius Backman Jääskeläinen appears once again for the 5th time in the top 15 with this colorization of Italian partisan Stefano Candela. This post received 30,700 likes on the HistoryColored Instagram page in 2022, making it the 7th most-liked image of the year.
Follow and see more colorizations from Julius Backman Jääskeläinen: Instagram, Facebook
6. Colorized Photograph of the real “Peaky Blinders”, early 1900s
Colorized by @lorenzofolli_history_in_color
Real members of the “Peaky Blinders” street gang based in Birmingham, England, that were active in the late 1800s to 1910s. (Left to Right) Harry Fowles, Ernest Haynes, Stephen McNickle, Thomas Gilbert.
Ranking as the 6th most popular post shared on the HistoryColored Instagram in 2022, this colorization by Lorenzo Folli received over 33 thousand likes since it was posted on January 29th.
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5. Colorizations of Per Elis Edhlund with his daughter over time, circa 1910 and the mid-1940s
Colorized by @julius.colorization
Photographer Per Elis Edhlund with his daughter, Tyra Edhlund, photographed in c. 1910, and the second photo is them photographed again in the mid-1940s.
Julius Backman Jääskeläinen was the creator of the most popular Instagram post shared on the HistoryColored Instagram page in 2021. Despite being featured in this list a record six times, the colorizations above are the last time in this list you will see work by Julius. These colorizations were posted on February 21st and received over 34,600 likes in 2022.
Follow and see more colorizations from Julius Backman Jääskeläinen: Instagram, Facebook
4. Colorized Photo of American troops in a landing craft, 1942
Colorized by @colourizedjackson
American troops on board a landing craft heading for the beaches at Oran in Algeria during Operation Torch in November 1942.
This colorization of American soldiers in a landing craft by Jackson Parker was posted on October 22nd, 2022, just before the cut-off date, and has since received over 35 thousand likes. This takes the spot as the 4th most liked photo shared on the HistoryColored Instagram page in 2022.
Follow and see more colorizations from Jackson Parker: Instagram, Twitter
3. Colorization of a railway signalman and his pet monkey, 1880s
Colorized by @color_byangelina
Double leg amputee railway signalman, James Wide, photographed working alongside his pet and assistant, Jack Baboon, in Cape Town during the 1880s. James Wide purchased a chacma baboon in 1881 and trained him to push his wheelchair and operate the railway signals under supervision.
Sitting 3rd in the top 15 most popular colorized photos of 2022 is this work by Angelina Karpunina, which received over 36 thousand likes in the year.
Follow and see more colorizations from Angelina Karpunina: Instagram, Twitter
2. Colorization of Future King George VI and his daughter Princess Elizabeth (future Queen Elizabeth II), 1936
Colorized by @marinaarts
Future King George VI and his daughter Princess Elizabeth (future Queen Elizabeth II) sitting on a bench with their corgi dogs in London, England, in July 1936.
Taking the spot as the 2nd most liked photo shared on the HistoryColored Instagram page in 2022 is this colorization of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth II by Marina Amaral. This image received over 40 thousand likes in 2022.
Follow and see more colorizations from Marina Amaral: Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, Website
1. Colorization of a beach in Atlantic City, 1908
Colorized by @sebcolorisation
A crowded beach in Atlantic City, New Jersey, photographed in 1908.
This colorization by Sébastien de Oliveira was posted on March 21st and received over 46,000 likes in the year, making it the number 1 most popular colorized photo shared on the HistoryColored Instagram page!
Follow and see more colorizations from Sébastien de Oliveira: Instagram
Special mention to Per Ivar Somby and Adam “A.B.” Cannon, who both had colorizations that would have been featured in this list but were posted in November, which is after the cut-off date!
Featured image by Jackson Parker
Be sure to follow all of the colorizers featured in this list!
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