This studio photograph of a large family shows two men and two women surrounded by children of various ages. The older women wear Chinese-style ensembles known as baju shanghai (or baju peki), comprising a long-sleeved blouse with a low mandarin collar matched with an ankle-length pleated skirt. The men and boys all wear Western-style suits.Photography studios had been established across the Straits Settlements and the Dutch East Indies by the 1860s, with the earliest studios being European owned. Chinese- and Japanese-operated studios began appearing in increasing numbers in the 1890s, and by the early 20th century, these studios almost completely dominated the industry across Southeast Asia.
