The Fifties have a particular place in our collective imagination: the decade of elegance and sophistication, of the economic boom, of “the Golden Age” of radio, of the birth of rock and roll, of the beginnings of television, and the dawn of commercial air travel.
However, these iconic characteristics of the Fifties represent only one side of the decade, inspired by the bright and optimistic eagerness for change that spread all over Europe after the Second World War ended. The Cold War, the fear of a nuclear conflict, the authoritarian regimes in Spain and Portugal, a divided Germany, and a controlling conservative society were also part of European citizens’ everyday life.
These fascinating photos from Michael Leonard were taken by his father Max Leonard during his trip to Europe in 1950.
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| Austria. Melk Abbey, 1950 |
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| Austria. Pinzgau, 1950 |
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| Austria. Salzburg, Zell am See, 1950 |
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| Austria. Vienna Parliament, 1950 |
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| Belgium. Brussels, Hotel Metropole, Place de Brouckère, 1950 |
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| Belgium. Brussels, Place de Brouckère (center), 1950 |
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| Belgium. Brussels, Place de Brouckère (north), 1950 |
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| Belgium. Brussels, Place de Brouckère with trolleys, 1950 |
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| France. Besançon, walking on the Pont Battant, 1950 |
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| France. Donkey carts, 1950 |
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| France. Max on waterfront, 1950 |
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| France. Menton, 1950 |
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| France. Monaco harbor and boats, 1950 |
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| France. Monaco harbor, 1950 |
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| France. Monaco harbor, 1950 |
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| France. Monaco, Monte Carlo Casino, 1950 |
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| France. Nice, park, 1950 |
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| France. Nice, Promenade des Anglais. The hotel Negresco is at the far end, 1950 |
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| France. Palm lined street, 1950 |
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| France. Paris, Arc de Triomphe, 1950 |
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| France. Paris, Notre-Dame, 1950 |
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| France. Paris, Pont d’lena, 1950 |
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| France. Paris, top of Arc de Triomphe, 1950 |
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| France. Paris, view from Arc de Triomphe, 1950 |
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| France. Soldiers posing, 1950 |
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| French beach, 1950 |
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| French Coast, 1950 |
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| French coastline, 1950 |
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| Germany. Bavaria, 1950 |
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| Germany. Bavaria, 1950 |
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| Germany. Bavaria, Herren Chiemsee, 1950 |
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| Germany. Bavaria, Karlstadt, 1950 |
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| Germany. Bavaria, Lohr am Main, 1950 |
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| Germany. Bavaria, Max and Elise near Karlstadt, 1950 |
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| Germany. Bavaria, Miltenberg Town Square, 1950 |
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| Germany. Bavaria, Miltenberg, 1950 |
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| Germany. Leo and Max on the bank of the Main in Würzburg with the Marienberg in the background, 1950 |
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| Germany. Max in Wertheim, 1950 |
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| Germany. Old town square of Miltenberg, 1950 |
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| Germany. Schloss Erbach courtyard, 1950 |
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| Germany. Wertheim, 1950 |
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| Italy. Beach boulevard, somewhere near Ventimiglia, 1950 |
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| Netherlands. Amsterdam, Boats on Damrak, 1950 |
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| Netherlands. Amsterdam, Damrak Avenue, 1950 |
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| Netherlands. Amsterdam, inner harbor, 1950 |
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| Netherlands. Volendam harbor, 1950 |
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| Netherlands. Volendam street scenes, 1950 |
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| Netherlands. Volendam, Havendijkie, 1950 |
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| Netherlands. Volendam, Hotel Spaander, 1950 |
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| Netherlands. Volendam, Munnikeveld, 1950 |
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| Netherlands. Volendam, Noordeinde, 1950 |
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| Spain. Alley with woman and child, 1950 |
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| Spain. Carmona, church tower, 1950 |
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| Spain. Carmona, Puerta de Sevilla, 1950 |
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| Spain. Carmona, Town Square, 1950 |
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| Spain. Elise in alley, 1950 |
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| Spain. Gate in Carmona, 1950 |
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| Spain. Plaza in Carmona, 1950 |
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| Spain. Stone city plaza, 1950 |
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| Switzerland. Wassen, 1950 |