A young woman plays the guitar as she poses for her portrait by a railroad photographer. The Fallman studio was actually located on a train car. Printing on the front of the cabinet card notes that the photographer utilized a Parlor Photo Car. Some photographers, like Mr. Fallman, would rent or purchase a railroad car and travel from town to town. Sometimes the car would be disconnected from the train and the photographer would operate his studio until business conditions dictated that he move on to another locale. Fallman’s parlor car obviously contained backdrops and props. The woman in this photograph is sitting on a hammock next to a box topped with a couple of books. Preliminary research failed to uncover details about Mr. Fallman. However, the Cabinet Card Gallery possesses a vintage photograph of a cute little girl by Harry Fallman (1853-1907). His studio was located in Eureka, South Dakota. During his lifetime, Harry also lived and worked as a photographer in North Newberg and Portland, Oregon. It is unknown if Harry is the same Fallman who operated the rail car studio that produced the photograph above. To view Harry Fallman’s photograph and to learn more about him (and his celebrity son), click on the category “Photographer: Fallman”. SOLD
THE CABINET CARD GALLERY 
I’m willing to bet, based on her unique coloration, lovely light eyes, but fairly indicative African American features, that this is a Creole young woman. There is certainly an unconventional, romantic element to the the pose: sitting on a hammock, playing an instrument. – Looks like an exotic young girl that you might have seen in New Orleans around that period. Thank you for your unusual presentation.
It is my hope that I will eventually find another cabinet card by the railroad car photographer, Mr Fallman. I would be very pleased if that particular cabinet card reveals the part of the country in which the photographer rode the rails. If the location is Louisiana or thereabouts, it will provide evidence to support your interesting theory.