These are the beautiful portraits of photographer James Abbe. Although he was born in a small town in Maine, he quickly became a citizen of the world when he began photographing the political power struggles happening around Europe at the turn of the 20th century. In between cataloging historical events including the Spanish Civil War and the Nazi rise to power, he would return to the States to make a name for himself as a glamour photographer, shooting some of the biggest the Broadway and movie stars of the time.

One of the things that made him most unusual and, eventually, so in demand, was his preference to photograph his subject backstage rather than in a studio. He then sold his photos to Vogue, Vanity Fair, and other iconic fashion magazines, increasing the exposure of his subjects.

His photos really feel like an insider’s view behind the scenes with some of the most fascinating people of the era.