Test or staged shot is likely. That was common, and probably still is. Here is an interesting collection from the Met. http://aperture.org/blog/grand-illusions

Test or staged shot is likely. That was common, and probably still is. Here is an interesting collection from the Met. http://aperture.org/blog/grand-illusions-staged-photography-met-collection/ http://aperture.org/blog/grand-illusions-staged-photography-...