Untitled (funeral portrait of nun) c. early 1930s

Editor: This is an untitled photograph by John Deusing, showing what appears to be a funeral portrait of a nun. It’s quite stark. What strikes you most about its presentation and potential purpose? Curator: The photograph’s directness is compelling. Funeral portraits, historically, served to memorialize the deceased but also to assert the social standing and piety of the family or religious order. Editor: So, this image serves as a kind of public record? Curator: Exactly! Consider how the image is framed. Is it for private mourning, or is it designed to project an image of peaceful transition and spiritual dedication for a wider audience? Editor: I see. It makes me think about the public versus private face of grief. Curator: Precisely. It's a negotiation of personal sorrow and public image, shaped by societal expectations and religious doctrine.