These are gelatine prints, where the paper has been coated with a layer of gelatine containing light-sensitive silver salts. They replaced albumen prints by the 1920s because they deteriorated less quickly and thus lasted longer in the long term. These photos were taken in pre-World War II studios, which added an element of elegance to their images with intricate backdrops. Scenes of glided mirrors and stately mansions were painted onto a screen, complemented by fine European-style furniture, decorative vases and flowering plants to add a dimension of physical realism to the flat photographic image. Props such as books, purses and walking sticks were commonly used and men would borrow European suits from the studios. Interestingly enough, however, the women would still be dressed in their traditional 'samfoos' in these portraits.
