Untitled (Armed Forces display) 1951

Editor: This is an untitled photograph by Peter James Studio depicting an Armed Forces display, its precise date being unknown. It feels…staged, almost like a tableau vivant. I'm curious, what stands out to you in this image? Curator: It’s the contrast between the stiff formality of the military personnel and the somewhat folksy quality of the display itself, wouldn't you say? It's like a high school history project, but with potentially deadly hardware. I can almost smell the musty carpet and hear the polite coughs. Makes you wonder what the photographer was trying to say, doesn’t it? Editor: Definitely, the juxtaposition is striking. Thanks for that perspective!