Jackie Braun c. 1935

Editor: Here we have Lee Miller's photograph of Jackie Braun. The texture of the gelatin silver print gives it a cool, almost detached feel. What can you tell me about this work? Curator: Considering Miller's trajectory, it's vital to see this portrait through the lens of material processes. What decisions were made during printing? How does the reproducibility of photography democratize art and challenge traditional portraiture's exclusive nature, available only to elites that could pay to have it done? Editor: So, it’s less about Jackie Braun as an individual and more about the photograph itself as a mass-produced object? Curator: Exactly! The materials and methods employed highlight a shift in art production and consumption, moving from unique artwork to a photographic image that can be multiplied, circulated, and consumed. Editor: That's a great way to think about it; it reframes the image in a completely different way. Curator: Indeed, recognizing the materials and manufacturing challenges our assumptions about artistic value.