A vintage class photo taken in 1910 or 1911 at Roubaix School has brought an intriguing piece of history back to life. The image, capturing three children linked to the “Depont” family, has sparked interest in identifying the individuals. While the identities of the three children from the Depont family have been established, efforts are ongoing to uncover the names of the other children in the picture. The quality of the black-and-white image from Roubaix School is remarkable, and its creator, renowned photographer Jean-Christophe Leforestier, has emphasized the significance of this photo.
Leforestier has described the image as belonging to the “educational years of 1910-1911,” expressing how he was moved by the children’s faces and gazes. Evoking memories of that time, he indicated that these children would live through a period when two world wars were imminent, with one war proving to be extremely devastating. These children would face challenges in the future that would impact them, especially considering that the region, namely Sharincourt, had already witnessed many casualties during wartime. Leforestier further revealed that the three “Depont” children in the photo actually belonged to a family of twelve siblings. Do you have any information about the other children or their teachers? If you know the story behind these faces, we invite you to share your insights. You can submit your information online or reach out to our Facebook page. This is a golden opportunity to collectively bring this historical moment back to life.
