Untitled (female dancer on stage) c. 1950

Curator: This silver gelatin print, attributed to Peter James Studio, captures a female dancer on stage. The stark contrast immediately suggests a critical study of performance. Editor: It's also about the materiality of the performance and how it is consumed by the audience. Curator: The high contrast creates stark divisions within the image, enhancing the theatricality, wouldn't you agree? Editor: Yes, and it’s all about the labor and skill involved in both the performance and the photographic process. The dancer’s pose, those heels... Curator: The gesture is so carefully staged, the use of light seems almost classical in its pursuit of an ideal form. Editor: It makes you wonder about the working conditions. The photographer's choice of materials also brings us into the dialogue. Curator: It certainly offers a lot to consider—the staging, the contrast, the composition… Editor: Indeed, from the dancer's labor to the materials of the print, a fascinating intersection.