Untitled (three little girls sitting outside) c. 1950

Curator: This photograph, "Untitled (three little girls sitting outside)," is by John Howell. Though undated, its materials—gelatin silver print—offer clues to its history. Editor: It's haunting! Like a ghostly memory. The inverted tones make their expressions unreadable, yet strangely compelling. Curator: Howell’s work often captures intimate, everyday moments. The seemingly casual arrangement hints at broader themes of childhood and representation. Editor: There's an unsettling quality too, though. The reversed light creates a sort of uncanny effect, transforming a sweet scene into something else entirely. Curator: Precisely. And considering photography's role in shaping perceptions, this inversion invites reflection on how we see and interpret images of children. Editor: I keep coming back to that unsettling feeling. It’s as though the image is asking, what are we truly seeing here?