Untitled (portrait of a woman seated on chair) c. 1940

Editor: This is an untitled photographic portrait of a woman seated on a chair, by John Deusing. It's quite striking in its starkness. What do you see in this piece? Curator: The photographic process itself is the focal point. The chemical processes and materials used to create this image were still relatively new. The attire is also important. It speaks to consumption and how it reflected status. Editor: That's a great point about the attire. I hadn't considered it in terms of status, but more as an aesthetic detail. Curator: The photographic materials and the sitter’s clothing are both commodities, reflecting the social and economic conditions of the time. Thinking about those aspects gives us a wider understanding. Editor: I learned a lot. Thanks. Curator: Indeed. It shows how art reflects, and is shaped by, the material world.