Untitled (group of uniformed men in warehouse) c. 1940

Curator: This photograph by John Deusing, currently held at the Harvard Art Museums, presents a group of uniformed men in what seems to be a warehouse setting. Editor: It's stark, isn't it? The inversion of the image creates an eerie sense of uniformity, amplified by their attire. Almost a ghost-like chorus line. Curator: Indeed. The uniforms and bow ties, repeated across the group, speak to a desire for order and conformity. The warehouse backdrop adds a layer of industrial symbolism. Editor: Right, the warehouse feels like a stage, a constructed space where identity is both performed and suppressed. It's unsettling. Curator: Perhaps Deusing is exploring the visual language of power and control inherent in these environments and the archetypes of its participants. The inversion of the image emphasizes a hidden reality. Editor: A shadow play, you might say. It certainly makes you question the individual stories buried beneath those matching outfits. Makes me wonder what they're producing. Curator: It invites us to reflect on how symbolism can be inverted to reveal deeper cultural anxieties about industry and identity. Editor: It certainly provides a provocative spin. One of the most fascinating inversions of the mundane that I've seen.