Untitled (two portraits of baby) c. 1945

Curator: Before us, we have John Deusing’s photograph, presently titled "Untitled (two portraits of baby)", housed here at the Harvard Art Museums. It presents, as the title suggests, a mirrored image of a baby, about 5 x 7 inches in size. Editor: My initial reaction is the unsettling juxtaposition of innocence and starkness; the inverted tones create an almost ghostly atmosphere. Curator: Indeed. The negative photographic process itself bears significant historical weight, suggesting the evolution of portraiture and the democratizing potential of photography in rendering likenesses. Editor: Yet the rigid framing and identical poses seem to negate individuality, almost objectifying the infant. Was this a common practice, to standardize childhood in such a way? Curator: Certainly, the act of photographing infants was becoming common. Such portraits become artifacts of a burgeoning middle class striving for social mobility and employing visual mediums to solidify their place. Editor: The visual polarity between subject and process here really gives pause. It prompts an investigation into the aesthetic and historical narratives embedded in this seemingly simple portrait. Curator: Yes, a compelling piece prompting questions about representation, technology, and the construction of identity.