[no title] 1997

Editor: This untitled photograph by Tracey Moffatt shows a baby being held up by two figures, shrouded in what looks like dark clothing. The high contrast and upward angle create a striking image, but I'm unsure what to make of it. What do you see in this piece? Curator: I see an exploration of labor and materiality in the photographic process itself. Moffatt uses the stark contrast and the angle to draw our attention. How does the photographer manipulate the production of images, and how are these materials – the photographic paper, the ink – implicated in the meaning? Editor: So, you're saying the process of creating the image is as important as the subject matter? Curator: Exactly. Consider the social context of photography, its role in shaping narratives and power structures. Moffatt seems to be challenging the romanticism of motherhood by showing figures obscured and focusing on the act of lifting. It provokes us to think about how images are made and what social meanings they convey. Editor: I never thought about it that way. Thank you. Curator: My pleasure.