Untitled (business men at meeting) c. 1940

Curator: This photograph, taken by Harris & Ewing, is simply titled “Untitled (business men at meeting).” Editor: My first impression is how the inverted tones give it an eerie, almost spectral feel. What are they up to? Curator: Harris & Ewing were a prolific Washington D.C. photographic studio. This likely depicts a formal gathering, reflecting the political and social landscape of the era. Editor: The repetition of figures, each mirroring the last, evokes a sense of conformity and perhaps the stifling nature of bureaucracy. Curator: Exactly. The image acts as a document of its time, showing us the power structures at play in American society. Editor: It's almost as if the lights above them are symbols of unseen forces. Illuminating, but also imposing. Curator: It provides a stark, yet fascinating glimpse into a world of power and influence. Editor: Indeed. A reminder that these gatherings, though formal, shaped the world we inhabit today.