Untitled (portrait of a baby) c. 1940

Curator: It's hard to shake off the feeling that this is a spirit photograph. The luminous quality is eerie. Editor: Well, this photogram, "Untitled (portrait of a baby)" by John Deusing, does have a ghostly presence because it's essentially a negative image. The process itself highlights the materiality of light on photographic paper. Curator: Yes, and consider the dual image—it's like a double exposure, reinforcing the idea of an echo or a memory. Babies often symbolize innocence, new beginnings. Is that doubled here, perhaps? Editor: Or is it more about efficiency and economy of materials? Duplicating the image on the same print reduces waste. It's a working-class approach, wouldn't you say? Curator: Perhaps. But I'm drawn to the almost otherworldly effect. It evokes a sense of fragility and transience. Editor: I’m struck by the dress. It appears handmade, with delicate lace, hinting at the labor and care embedded in ordinary, material items. Curator: Interesting how we can each find such different things in the same work. Editor: Indeed, a simple photograph becomes surprisingly complex.