Untitled (two boys holding hands) c. 1950

Editor: This is an untitled black and white photograph by John Howell, showing two young men holding hands. The reversed tones give it an eerie, dreamlike quality. What do you make of it? Curator: The inverted image lends a stark, almost spectral feel, doesn’t it? It strips away the familiar, forcing us to confront the underlying connection between the figures. Are they celebrating? Consoling? I wonder what emotions this work stirs in you? Editor: It definitely makes me question the relationship. The suits almost suggest a formal agreement, but the hand-holding feels intimate, personal. Curator: Precisely! The tension between formality and intimacy is palpable. The starkness invites introspection, prompting us to consider the complexities inherent in human connection. Editor: I see that now, it's a powerful ambiguity. Curator: Indeed. It's a photograph that lingers, prompting reflection long after you've turned away.