Photo fakery before Photoshop.

From the beginning of photography, some tried to modify the images after the shooting. The reasons are multiple and more or less honest. Political propaganda is one of the most common motivations. Of course, since the generalization of digital photos and editing software like Photoshop, and even more since the rise of artificial intelligence, these practices have become common and no longer surprise anyone.

Voici quelques images célèbres modifiées ou falsifiées bien avant l'apparition de la photographie numérique. Here are some famous images modified or falsified long before the advent of digital photography. You have to be aware that you can only realize the trickery in cases where you have found the original, which means that many falsifications remain unknown.

Abraham Lincoln didn't like his body.

The portrait of Abraham Lincoln (left) dates from 1860. Only the head is real. The body is that of Senator John Caldwell Calhoun, photographed in this pose in 1852. Lincoln's figure was probably considered less flattering than Calhoun's. The manipulation is particularly daring because the two men were politically opposed, particularly on the subject of slavery.

The communist regime: specialists in falsification.

The photo on the left shows Stalin (centre) and a surprising gap on the right. The reason is that one figure has been erased: Nikolai Yejov, whom Stalin had executed in 1940.

This image has also been heavily modified to remove several characters, including Trotsky.

En In 1937, Hitler met Leni Riefenstahl (actress and director) in the company of several people, including Joseph Goebbels. The latter has been removed from the image for an unknown reason. The retouching is approximate: an area of different contrast can be seen in place of the deleted character.

Mussolini no doubt felt that the photo would look better without a groom to hold his horse (photo from 1942).

Kings and queens...

The Canadian Prime Minister, the Queen Mother and King George VI. For some unknown reason, King George VI was removed from the image. Slight cropping was necessary to refocus the two remaining figures.

Teddy Roosevelt riding a moose.

This photo is a montage produced by the Underwood and Underwood photographic agency, for the presidential campaign in 1912. It shows candidate Teddy Roosevelt riding an moose. Other candidates were also caricatured, riding various animals: elephants, donkeys, etc. The series was entitled "Race for the White House".