Untitled (Young man with broom in shirt) 12 - 1938

Curator: This striking C-print photography, known as "Untitled (Young man with broom in shirt)," comes to us from December 1938, created by an anonymous artist. There’s a rather surreal, genre-painting quality to it, wouldn’t you agree? Editor: Well, my immediate reaction is… unrestrained exuberance, maybe a bit absurd. The figure’s open mouth, the broom – it’s unexpected and humorous. It’s not at all what one might expect of that era, visually. Curator: Exactly! It plays with expectations. It has elements reminiscent of Modernism, yet holds tight to elements of realism, the ordinary mixed with something slightly off-kilter. The photograph's materiality enhances the effect; there's a subtle manipulation with colour, adding to its intrigue. Editor: Indeed, observe the formal contrast. The composition neatly divides itself between tones, which highlights the artifice. A stark line slices the sky above the car in two, revealing colour as an overlay imposed atop a monochrome tableau. Curator: Precisely. He's both part of and detached from the background, suggesting a story far beyond a simple portrait. This work isn't about the likeness itself, it's an exploration, and a little daring for the time, no? I wonder what inspired such a playful image amidst a time of so much upheaval. Editor: An excellent point. Considering the prevailing aesthetic and social contexts, such levity may appear intentionally defiant. Note how his attire, particularly the cardigan and shirt, situate the subject temporally. I posit the artist is deliberately contrasting a youthful figure within a somewhat aged environment. Curator: A juxtaposition that’s beautifully rendered, which truly does provoke so many conversations! I like what it has brought forth, because even after delving a little deeper, it retains an inherent strangeness and invites a smile! Editor: I must concede; it is quite ingenious in how it navigates that visual tension! I’m off to ponder it some more!