10/01/2026
Who owns one of these beloved pieces?
ISO
Here's another one for you Angels Camp...
Who's familiar with this one?
The story behind "Grace":
Photographed by Eric Enstrom in Bovey, Minnesota in 1918. It features an elderly, bearded peddler named Charles Wilden sitting at a table with folded hands, bowing his head in prayer before a simple meal.
Enstrom's daughter, Rhoda Nyberg, later painted several colorized oil versions of the beloved photograph. 84 years after the original photograph was taken, "Grace" was named the official state photograph of Minnesota in 2002.
"Gratitude" c 1960s (picture in comments) was later created as a companion piece by Jack Garren, a Christian bookstore owner in Centralia, Illinois. He photographed his grandmother, Mrs. Myrtle Copple, seated at a similar table with her head bowed in prayer, facing the opposite direction to compliment the earlier "Grace."
"Grace and Gratitude" are a well recognized pair of companion photographic portraits often reproduced as prints or oil paintings depicting an elderly man and woman bowing their heads in prayer over a humble meal. To this day, the two images are sold side-by-side as nostalgic Christian wall decor. Prints can be found on platforms like Etsy, Amazon, and in specialty religious gift stores.
I personally have been searching for this piece (particularly "Grace") for a couple years now to have and hang in my own home. Though I've considered the Etsy option-- I have patiently held out. I often frequent estate sales, yard sales and thrift stores and believe it's only a matter of time before I find myself a true vintage copy ♡
So, do you recognize it? Did you have one hanging in your childhood home? Do you have it now? *Do you just so happen to have one laying around you're willing to part with? 😉😉🙋♀️🙋♀️
Find other amazing vintage pieces at Bluejay Vintage Co-Op in Downtown Angels Camp.
Wed-Sat • 11-5
Sun • 11-3
Mon-Tue • Closed
