Early 20th Century Family Portrait: The Reiss Family

This historical photograph features the Reiss Family, captured between 1915 and 1920 by a photographer from the Bain News Service. The image serves as a snapshot of early 20th-century family life in America, highlighting the clothing and social norms of the time. During this period, glass negative photography was widely used due to its ability to produce sharp, detailed images. This technique involved coating a glass plate with light-sensitive emulsion, allowing the photographer to create images with remarkable clarity.

The Reiss Family’s portrait reflects the domestic sphere of the era, a time when family gatherings were often celebrated through formal photographs. Such portraits were common practices, capturing moments that families would cherish for generations. By examining photographs like this, we gain valuable insights into the social dynamics of the period, as well as the lifestyles and values that shaped early 20th-century America. This image invites us to consider not just the subjects themselves, but the broader context of history in which they lived.