signalcorps

Herbert A. Olivier (1861-1952) en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herbert_Arnould_Olivier "In 1917, Olivier was appointed an official War Artist and in 1924 he presented to the nation, for display in 'the new War Museum at South Kensington', a number of paintings, including The Supreme War Council (the original of which was given to the French Government and displayed in the Palace of Versailles), The Armistice Meeting, The Military Representatives in Conference, The Peace Signature Table, and various portraits. The paintings now form part of the collections of the Imperial War Museum." The picture he is painting is at artuk.org/discover/artworks/the-terms-of-the-armistice-34...

Image will have been taken after the Peace Conference November 1918. Being done at the site of the event.

Another LoC picture of this room and event is at www.loc.gov/item/2016652395/ featured in www.loc.gov/exhibitions/world-war-i-american-experiences/... You can see the physical exhibition at the Library of Congress through January 2019.

According to Wikipedia: "Major General Robert Alexander (October 17, 1863 – August 25, 1941) was a senior United States Army officer. He served in World War I, where he commanded the 77th Infantry Division on the Western Front." He was notable among U.S. Army officers in that he had originally been an enlisted man and was commissioned from the ranks. One assumes that the band itself is in the nearer foreground and is not visible in the picture.

"39643. The Seventy-seventh Division concert band troupe, band, orchestra, and players, entertaining Maj. Gen. R. Alexander and Col. J.R.R. Hannay in ancient ruins of Chateau Fere. ( Seventy-seventh Division composed of men from metropolitan portion of New York, trained at Camp Upton, Yaphank, N.Y.). Chateau Fere, near Fere en Tardenois, Aisne, France. August 27, 1918. " Catalogue of official A.E.F. photographs by United States. War Dept. General Staff; United States Army. Signal Corps Publication date 1919

looks like it's a hotel and spa now: www.chateaudefere.com/en/

John Robert Rigby Hannay, 1875-1938 His grave at Arlington: www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSln=hannay...; and prabook.com/web/person-view.html?profileId=933837

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Alexander_(United_States_Army_officer)

NARA 111-SC-50561. Taken December 19, 1918. President Woodrow Wilson attends reception to Marshall Joffre, Paris, France. President and Mrs. Wilson after attending reception at the French Academy to Marshall Joffre, leaving the hall, greeted at the door with military honors. Source (catalog.archives.gov/id/86706898)