Photo Number 532

This is one weird photo.  I purchased it in Detroit Lakes, Minnesota.  It is a CdV.

I could not figure out the purpose of this photo..so I would appreciate your opinion.  I will guess that this was taken sometime around 1870 to 1880.  Is it a photograph in front of another photograph?  What is up with the white hankie?

Thanks for stopping by, do come again:)