Walt & Pete

Célibataire 007 – Western Union Messenger Boy with Bicycle | Lewis Hine 1913 Photograph Framed Canvas

A bicycle’s front wheel fills the foreground as a messenger boy leans toward the camera, his hands resting on the handlebars. Célibataire 007 reproduces a restored historical photograph as framed matte canvas wall art. His peaked cap, rolled shirt sleeves, trousers, and tall boots stand against a detailed streetscape of automobiles, storefronts, and wooden sidewalk boards.

The identified source belongs to the National Child Labor Committee collection. Its documentary context gives the portrait significance beyond its composition: the sitter was a child working as a telegraph messenger. The photograph invites viewers to consider the young people whose labor formed part of everyday city life.

The curved handlebars and large wheel draw the eye toward the subject, while the sidewalk and receding buildings carry the composition into the distance. In the restored version, muted blue sky, warm brick, pale clothing, and dark vehicle surfaces distinguish the setting. These colors are a contemporary interpretation rather than verified original colors.

Display it in a study, library, office, or documentary photography gallery wall, where its street details and historical context can be appreciated together.

Forgotten Moments, Forever Remembered.

Original Photograph Record

Descriptive Title: Western Union Messenger Young Man with Bicycle

Date: November 1913

Photographer: Lewis Wickes Hine; attribution based on provenance

Location: Shreveport, Louisiana, United States

Subject: Fourteen-year-old Western Union messenger, identified in the source caption as messenger number

Collection: National Child Labor Committee collection

Original Materials: Photographic print and glass negative

Dimensions: Glass negative: 5 × 7 inches; print dimensions not specified

Why You’ll Love It

Documentary significance: Preserves a historical record of a working child.
Detailed streetscape: Storefronts, automobiles, and sidewalk boards invite closer viewing.
Strong composition: The bicycle wheel and handlebars anchor the portrait.
Historical collecting appeal: Suits collections focused on labor, photography, bicycles, and urban life.
Thoughtful display: Brings a historically grounded image to a study, library, or office.

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