Untitled (couple standing in front of lockers) 1954 - 1955

Curator: This is an untitled photograph by Harry Annas, part of the Harvard Art Museums collection, depicting a couple standing in front of lockers. It’s quite striking, isn’t it? The negative image creates such a ghostly atmosphere. Editor: It does have a kind of melancholic feel to it, especially given the mundane setting. I'm curious about the social dynamics at play. Are we seeing a formal portrait in a high school, or something more casual? The lockers and their function in the social lives of students become an interesting stage. Curator: The lockers do suggest a very specific context, one of institutional structure and youthful transition. And consider the labor behind this image. Annas, whoever he was, made choices about film, exposure, and development. We see the Kodak brand on the negative. It all speaks to the accessibility and the constraints of photographic technology at the time. Editor: Absolutely. And the accessibility meant it was available for documenting everyday lives, like this moment between two young people. The image becomes a document not just of two individuals, but of a specific era and its visual culture. Curator: Precisely. It reminds us of the power of ordinary materials and processes to shape our understanding of history. Editor: A poignant reminder, indeed.