Untitled (dancers in costume) c. 1950

Editor: This silver gelatin print by Peter James Studio, "Untitled (dancers in costume)," presents what looks like mannequins dressed in elaborate carnival outfits. The high contrast gives it a somewhat eerie feel. What’s your take on this piece? Curator: I see it as a commentary on artifice and display. Given Peter James Studio's commercial work, could this be read as a reflection on the performative aspects of identity, mediated by the photographic lens and shaped by societal expectations? Editor: That’s interesting. So, the photo itself is part of a larger cultural performance? Curator: Precisely! It makes you wonder about the role of photography in constructing and perpetuating these images, doesn't it? Editor: It does! I hadn’t considered the performative aspect of the photograph itself before.