AA-2026-9AA0C7
On the image
In the 1970s, people often paused to capture the annual spectacle of autumn foliage, a transient burst of colour that temporarily elevated even the most ordinary suburban dwelling. This particular maple tree, ablaze in red and orange, was putting on quite a show, briefly overshadowing the quiet yellow house behind it.
The residents, at "Six Thirteen" whatever-street-it-was, presumably admired this seasonal transformation, perhaps after spending a significant portion of their weekend keeping the lawn tidy. It was an era when a well-kept front yard, complete with changing leaves, conveyed a certain civic responsibility.
The camera recorded this precise intersection of nature's indifference and human aspiration. Soon, the leaves would fall, revealing the house in its full, less glamorous, glory, and initiating the universal chore of raking.
The historian's note
The scene, captured in the 1970s, features a residential home partially obscured by a mature tree displaying vibrant autumn foliage. The architecture, including the light-coloured siding and front porch, represents common suburban housing styles prevalent in the United States during the mid-20th century.
The deliberate framing of the colourful fall leaves highlights a popular aesthetic in American culture, where seasonal transitions were frequently documented. Such imagery provides insight into the values and domestic environments of the era, emphasising well-maintained properties and the cyclical beauty of nature in a residential setting.
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Autumn Foliage Obscuring Suburban House, 1970s. 1970–1979. Archive & Atlas, Historical Image Library, AA-2026-9AA0C7. https://thearchive.archiveandatlas.com/library/autumn-foliage-obscuring-suburban-house-1970s.
@misc{aaAA20269AA0C7,
title = {Autumn Foliage Obscuring Suburban House, 1970s},
year = {1970–1979},
howpublished = {Archive \& Atlas, Historical Image Library},
note = {Accession AA-2026-9AA0C7},
url = {https://thearchive.archiveandatlas.com/library/autumn-foliage-obscuring-suburban-house-1970s}
}TY - ART TI - Autumn Foliage Obscuring Suburban House, 1970s PY - 1970–1979 PB - Archive & Atlas, Historical Image Library AN - AA-2026-9AA0C7 UR - https://thearchive.archiveandatlas.com/library/autumn-foliage-obscuring-suburban-house-1970s ER -
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