After the invention of photography it became clear that its main problem is lack of colors. So masters who coul colorize photos for exhibitions and print publications were found really quickly. The history of this craft, that became a high art, deserves a separate large study. Since colored photography was invented people colorize only history photos to "bring" them to a modern audience, enhance the sense of reality. In spite of all the "wonders of Photoshop" today, as before, colorizing the picture to full similarity with the color photography is almost impossible. But some virtuosos are sometimes almost succeed.
For example, Times Square, New York, 1943
I want to show the most interesting experiments on the coloring of the images presented on the historical photoblog Shorpy.
And let's imagine a civil war in the United States in color
This is a military depot in Nashville, 1864. Yes, it is not very realistic, though beautiful!
Quite a remarkable portrait of Lincoln in 1865
There is also this option
The famous picture of Atlanta 1864. with a shop selling black slaves
1903, shop in New Orleans
1905, the aquarium in Detroit
Terminal in Manhattan in 1907
1911, fire brigade
Imagine how much time should be spent to color a Christmas tree like this
1920, the Mermaid Club in Philadelphia
Just a brilliant job - Evening Dallas 1942
An absolute masterpiece of coloring - Grand Central Terminal in New York, 1941