Untitled (man and woman at ball) 1962

This gelatin silver print was made by Robert Burian at an unknown date. In this photograph we can see a man and a woman dressed up for what might be a ball. Photographs like this, recording everyday life, are valuable documents of social history. The way these people are dressed, the fashions, and the implied wealth speak volumes about social structures. But what if this photo was taken in a segregated establishment? Who has access to spaces of luxury? Considering the historical context of dress codes and social gatherings we can examine a more nuanced story about who is represented. By cross-referencing archives, social registers, and fashion publications, historians can better understand the cultural politics embedded in images like this. This photograph reminds us that art reflects and shapes the social world it inhabits.