Untitled (man in suit on shore of Tuscanora Beach) 1930

Curator: Here we have an untitled work from the Hamblin Studio, featuring a man in a suit on the shore of Tuscanora Beach. Editor: It feels haunted, almost ghostly, the negative space playing tricks on the eye. The man looks like a specter emerging from the surf. Curator: The photo’s stark contrast heightens that effect, but think about the context. Beach resorts in the early 20th century were about class display, showing wealth and leisure. Editor: True, but I can't shake the melancholy. Maybe he’s contemplating something profound, or maybe he’s just overdressed for the beach. Curator: Or maybe the Hamblin Studio was interested in capturing a moment of societal spectacle, a record of leisure as a performance. Editor: Either way, it certainly gives us something to think about. Curator: Indeed. The power of a simple image to capture so much.