This studio photograph of four children reflects the change in studio photography that took place from the end of the 19th century.Portraits, especially ancestral ones, have long played an important role in Chinese tradition. Before the end of the 19th century, Chinese photographers adopted the conventions of portrait painting, including positioning their subjects seated upright. From the end of the 19th century, photographs were taken in a more naturalistic approach and photographers began to arrange their subjects with props. Some of the common props include a vase placed on a small table (as featured in the photograph), or books or clocks accompanied by a scenic backdrop. Visits to the studio to take photographs became increasingly popular among affluent families. It involved dressing up, often in formal attire and for the ladies and girls to be fully adorned in order to look more presentable.
