Figure 14.--We are unsure about this image. The children and their clothes look rather French to us, but I'm less sure about the mother. She looks more Italian to us. There is a photographers stamp in the lower right corner. We would guess the portrait was taken in the 1920s.

We are unsure about this image. The children and their clothes look rather French to us. The children wear large fancy lace collars and ankle strap shoes. Note that one child seems to be wearing French-looking rompers (barboteuse). Also note all the stuffed animals. I'm less sure about the mother. She looks more Italian to us. There wefre Italians living in France. Spain and Portugal are other possibilities. As are Balkan countries. We are just not sure. There is a photographers stamp in the lower right corner. We would guess the portrait was taken in the 1920s. Our European readers have determined that the portrait was taken in Berchtesgaden.

Reader Comments

Reader comments include the following. "Yes, it is possible it could be French. The outfits do look French. About the mom, she looks Italian to me. There were many Greeks and Italians who married French people in Algeria ("pied-noir") for example." "My instant impression was that the mother looks Balkan, but we all know how dangerous eugenics and phrenology are!" "not much to go on, but I think in the 2nd line of the studio imprint I can see the combination of the letters "ercht" .... which sounds sort of German!" "I would say Germany. The Ebay seller of this postcard is German, and the stamp reads: Joseph Schmid, Verchtesgaden (your image is too compressed to make it out, but I have the original image)."

Perhaps Italians

A reader writes, "The mother looks typically Italian or Sicilian to me. The kids are clear eyes and darker skins. The fact that the photo was taken in Berchesgaden may mean that they may be tourists are enjoying the minneral water for health reasons. The stuffed animals look a bit more European than American, but I am not an expert here."

Not French

A French reader does not think that the family is French, "What is sure this photo dates after World War I. The mother wears the " style garçonne ". This was the typical woman's fashion typical in the 1920s, principaly in France and also in other European countries. The French fashion influence was succesfull averywhere. This image isn't clear enough to get a good opinion about it but I guess this photo could be German because , it is written, "Verchtesgaden" and "ercht", these words sound german but mean nothing , perhaps " ercht " for echt who in this case means "real photo". It true , these adorable children face could be German or French. About their mother, remember that France and Germany includ in his population people of many origins. Not all had blond hair with blue eyes! The stuffed beare toy was very commun in Germany in this time. I don't think this image is French. The reason why is that the photo is written in German , and in 1920s it wasn't possible to prints logos in German--even in Alsace. Feelings from the War were to recent. After 1918, the French children were wearing rather little Pan collar. The French buble romper still wasn't in fashion in 1920s , and was rarely a Sunday clothe. The French boy after the World War I wore short pants, which were shorter for formal occasion. After World War I, the romper was only a boy garment for baby and quickly became a suit for older boy less 6 years old in the Summer. Only about 1933 the French romper became puffed, and very puffed in 1936. It must be said that it also very popular averywhere. All French baby till 1960s wore romper knitted in wool or made in different material. Since 1940s this garment became also a popular Sunday suit for boys less 5 years old; and even for petit garçon modèle 6-7 years. Probably because it was easy to made by mother, and had the juvenil look appreciated in this time. I think, the two little children in middle this image are girl with dresse , their hair style are combed in right.

Berchtesgaden

A german reader tells us the photo logo reads, "Joseph Schmid, Berchtesgaden". He tells us, As you wrote the words in the stamp, would certainly indicate that the mother with her children are German. Berchtesgaden (not "Verchtesgaden") is an old town in the southern part of Bavaria, just when entering the Alpes from the German side."

HBC Assessment

Yes we now know definitively where the portrait was taken. Of course Berchtesgaden is well known. It is beautiful the Alpine village that a decade later Hitler chose for his Alpine retreat. It would become infamous in history as the place where Hitler terrorized foreign leaders like Nevile Chamberlain with war. So we now know that the portrait was taken in a Berchtesgaden photographic studio. We are not at all convinced that the family here is a local family. While as our French reader points out, not all Germans were blond. Hwever the woman here does not look like the common Alpine type. Nor is she or the children dressed like you might have expected from local residents. We wonder if she might have been a tourist. A German reader writes, "Well, all is possible. You are right, they all do not wear typical Bavarian clothes. Wearing Bavarian clothes, however, also somewhat depends on the social status of a family, farmers, workers versus merchants, educated people from Munich or Salzburg, also socalled "Roigschmeggte" (i.e., people not grown up in Bavaria or in this town) - although living in Bavaria it is a good advice to accept the local style! Berchtesgaden is for long time a reduit, e.g., for people with seious illnesses , as there are beneficial nantural springs ; and it has a splendid scenery."

Created: 7:14 PM 12/20/2005
Last updated: 7:39 PM 12/20/2005