Untitled (two portraits of a baby) c. 1945

Curator: This is an intriguing photographic image by John Deusing, titled "Untitled (two portraits of a baby)." Editor: It's striking, and a little unsettling. The inverted tones give it a spectral quality. It feels like gazing into a forgotten past. Curator: The dual presentation is fascinating. Do you think it is meant to convey a sense of doubling, a reflection of identity in infancy? Editor: Perhaps, but consider the social context. Are we seeing an attempt to document childhood innocence? Or a commentary on the restrictive roles imposed on children, especially girls? Curator: It’s a powerful reminder of how we project our own cultural baggage onto these innocent figures. Editor: Yes, it prompts us to reflect on the meaning of childhood and how societal expectations shape identity from the very beginning.