Untitled (portrait of a woman in a layered petticoat skirt) c. 1940

Editor: This photograph by John Deusing, "Untitled (portrait of a woman in a layered petticoat skirt)," presents a ghostly, ethereal figure. The image's stark contrast gives it a dreamlike quality, don't you think? What symbols or stories emerge for you from this composition? Curator: The layered skirt is fascinating. Historically, clothing denotes social status. But here, the woman's obscured face and the image's inversion might suggest a hidden narrative, a suppressed identity perhaps. What does the hat signify to you? Is it protection or confinement? Editor: Perhaps both? It hides her face, but also suggests a certain decorum. It's interesting how one object can hold conflicting meanings. Curator: Precisely. Symbols aren't fixed. They evolve through personal and cultural interpretations, inviting us to consider the complexities of human experience.