40 Elegant Studio Portraits of Young European Women From the Early 20th Century

Fashion in the period 1900–1909 in the Western world continued the severe, long and elegant lines of the late 1890s. Tall, stiff collars characterize the period, as do women’s broad hats and full “Gibson Girl” hairstyles. A new, columnar silhouette introduced by the couturiers of Paris late in the decade signaled the approaching abandonment of the corset as an indispensable garment.

Studio portraits of young European women in the early 20th century

The fashionable silhouette in the early 20th century was that of a confident woman, with full low chest and curvy hips. The “health corset” of this period removed pressure from the abdomen and created an S-curve silhouette.

Since 1897, the silhouette slimmed and elongated by a considerable amount. Blouses and dresses were full in front and puffed into a “pigeon breast” shape of the early 20th century that looked over the narrow waist, which sloped from back to front and was often accented with a sash or belt. Necklines were supported by very high boned collars.

Skirts brushed the floor, often with a train, even for day dresses, in mid-decade. The fashion houses of Paris began to show a new silhouette, with a thicker waist, flatter bust, and narrower hips. By the end of the decade the most fashionable skirts cleared the floor and approached the ankle. The overall silhouette narrowed and straightened, beginning a trend that would continue into the years leading up to the Great War.

These elegant photos were found by Patrick Bradley that show studio portraits of young European women from the early 20th century.

Portrait of a girl at R.Schönfelder studio, Reichenbach im Vogtland, Germany, circa 1900

Portrait of a young woman at H.Ephron studio, Wien (Vienna), Austria/Hungary, 1900

Portrait of a young woman at Johanne Birkedahl studio, Nakskov, Denmark, circa 1900

Portrait of a young woman at Sigrid Graff studio, Båstad, Sweden, circa 1900

Portrait of a young woman with dog at Fritz Kayser studio, Hannover, Germany, circa 1900

Portrait of a young woman at Nicolaus Stockmann studio, Wien (Vienna), Austria/Hungary, 1902

Portrait of a young woman at Olof Östling studio, Gefle (Gävle), Sweden, circa 1902

Portrait of a young woman at C.Ruf studio, Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany, 1903

Portrait of a young woman at Globus Atelier studio, Berlin, Germany, 1904

Portrait of a girl at Jakob Beckmann studio, Alzey/Sprendlingen, Germany, circa 1905

Portrait of a girl at Julius Frank studio, Lilienthal, Germany, circa 1905

Portrait of a young woman at A Rohwer studio, Kiel, Germany, circa 1905

Portrait of a young woman at A.Abtmeyer studio, Hannover, Germany, circa 1905

Portrait of a young woman at A.Osinoff studio, Plevna (Pleven), Bulgaria, circa 1905

Portrait of a young woman at Hans Frank studio, Wien (Vienna), Austria/Hungary, circa 1905

Portrait of a young woman at Hermann Schröder studio, Lüneburg, Germany, circa 1905

Portrait of a young woman at Hugo Mende studio, Remscheid, Germany, circa 1905

Portrait of a young woman at J.Leschen studio, Rendsburg, Germany, circa 1905

Portrait of a young woman at J.W.Hornung studio, Tübingen, Germany, circa 1905

Portrait of a young woman at Josef Semmelroth studio, Schwenningen am Neckar, Germany, circa 1905

Portrait of a young woman at Oscar Tellgmann studio, Eschwege, Germany, circa 1905

Portrait of a young woman at V.Donát studio, Praha (Prague), Austria/Hungary, 1907

Portrait of a young woman at Hahn Nachfolger (E.Müller) studio, Dresden, Germany, circa 1908

Portrait of a young woman at A.C. Holzhäuser studio, Michelstadt im Odenwald, Germany, circa 1910

Portrait of a young woman at A.Elsässer studio, Werl, Germany, circa 1910

Portrait of a young woman at Anna Berglund studio, Söderhamn, Sweden, circa 1910

Portrait of a young woman at Arnold Schalita studio, Wien (Vienna), Austria/Hungary, circa 1910

Portrait of a young woman at Atelier Josef Maier studio, Ebersberg, Germany, circa 1910

Portrait of a young woman at Aug.Nolte studio, Hannover, Germany, circa 1910

Portrait of a young woman at C.Goldmann studio, Kaufbeuren, Germany, circa 1910

Portrait of a young woman at C.Risch-Lau studio, Bregenz, Austria/Hungary, 1910

Portrait of a young woman at Carl Barkström studio, Svärdsjö, Sweden, circa 1910

Portrait of a young woman at Corine Ingelse studio, Utrecht, Netherlands, circa 1910

Portrait of a young woman at Erik Bodén studio, Borlänge, Sweden, circa 1910

Portrait of a young woman at Josef Röding studio, Filipstad, Sweden, circa 1910

Portrait of a young woman at Jul. V. Kwanka studio, Hamburg, Germany, circa 1910

Portrait of a young woman at Ludvig Kjær studio, Aarhus, Denmark, circa 1910

Portrait of a young woman at Robert Spatzier studio, Eger (now 'Cheb', Czech Republic), Austria/Hungary, circa 1910

Portrait of a young woman at Systrarna Hallberg (Hallberg sisters) studio, Kristinehamn, Sweden, circa 1910

Portrait of a young woman at Systrarna Hedberg (Hedberg Sisters) studio, Lysekil, Sweden, circa 1910