Untitled (portrait of a deceased woman, Schaff Funeral Home, West Allis, WI) 1950

Editor: This is John Deusing's "Untitled (portrait of a deceased woman, Schaff Funeral Home, West Allis, WI)." It's a photograph, and it's quite striking. The composition feels very staged. What do you make of it? Curator: Note how Deusing uses photographic manipulation to invert the tonal range. This heightens the contrast and flattens the image. It draws attention to the textures and the interplay of light and shadow, abstracting the scene. Editor: So, the starkness is more about the photographic technique than the subject matter itself? Curator: Precisely. Deusing is less interested in mimesis than in exploring the expressive possibilities of the medium. The artifice is the point. Editor: I see. It's less about capturing death and more about the artistry of the photograph itself. Thanks for pointing that out! Curator: Indeed, and by considering its visual mechanics, we gain deeper insight into the photographer's artistic intention.