Untitled (large group of nuns and priests facing front of church with audience towards back) 1951

Curator: This photograph, taken by Martin Schweig, captures a large group of nuns and priests inside a church, facing the altar. It's quite striking, isn't it? Editor: My first thought is, wow, that's a lot of white! It almost feels like a dream, everyone blending together in this surreal religious tableau. Curator: The image indeed offers a glimpse into the socio-political structures of religious institutions. Note the division of space and the implied hierarchy within the gathering. Editor: Hierarchy, yes, but also a sense of shared purpose, almost like a single organism. The rows of faces fading into the background give it a haunting quality. I wonder what they were all thinking at that moment? Curator: Martin Schweig creates an important documentation. It also highlights the way religious imagery is historically recorded and disseminated in society. Editor: It makes me think about the stories these faces could tell, the weight of tradition, but also the quiet moments of faith. A really fascinating and complex image. Curator: Yes, an image that gives insight to cultural history. Editor: It lingers in the mind long after you've seen it.