Untitled (priest with little girl in white dress) 1929

Editor: This is John Deusing's "Untitled (priest with little girl in white dress)." It's an older black and white photograph that has this ethereal almost ghostly quality. What strikes you about it? Curator: I notice the photographic process itself. This looks like an early photographic print, perhaps a silver gelatin print. Its materiality and the labor involved in creating this single image are significant. Editor: How so? Curator: Think about the social context of photography at this time. It wasn't the instantaneous act we know today. It required specific materials, darkroom labor, and a certain level of economic privilege to commission such a portrait. It speaks to the values placed on representation and documentation within a specific class. Editor: I see. So, it’s more about the making and less about the people? Curator: Not entirely, but understanding the means of production offers a richer understanding. Editor: That’s a perspective I hadn’t considered. Thanks!