Untitled (portrait of a woman, hands up at neck) 1945 - 1949

Curator: This photograph by John Deusing at the Harvard Art Museums is called "Untitled (portrait of a woman, hands up at neck)." It measures about 10 by 8 inches. Editor: The first thing that strikes me is how dreamlike the image is, like a photographic negative of a memory. Curator: Given the sitter's headpiece and delicate attire, I wonder if this was produced within the context of a theatrical or fashion shoot. The labor involved in staging such a setting deserves consideration. Editor: Yes, but notice the hand gesture—it's almost a classical pose, reminiscent of depictions of innocence or vulnerability. Is she a modern-day Persephone? Curator: Or perhaps the gesture is simply drawing attention to the material object of a ring, a marker of status and commitment. Editor: Perhaps. Regardless, the image's power lies in its ability to evoke a sense of timeless beauty. Curator: I agree. It reveals how photographic processes can transform everyday materials into something transcendent.