Untitled (mother with two children) before 1960

Editor: Here we have John Howell's "Untitled (mother with two children)," a photograph of modest size. The grayscale gives it a haunted air, yet the subjects seem posed and formal. What strikes you about it? Curator: It whispers of memory, doesn’t it? The inverted tones add a dreamlike quality. It’s a common pose of the time, but there's also a starkness, almost a discomfort in their expressions. Is it just the harsh light, I wonder, or a deeper story untold? Editor: Untold indeed. The lack of information about the artist adds to the mystery. Curator: Exactly. It becomes about *our* story, our projection. Perhaps that's the beauty – and the point – of art, yes? We find ourselves within it. Editor: Definitely something to consider. Thanks!