Untitled (one-year old sitting on bed) 1945

Curator: Here we have an interesting photograph, an "Untitled (one-year old sitting on bed)," by Hamblin Studio. Editor: It's strikingly stark, almost ghostly. The inverted tones give it an eerie quality. Curator: Knowing it’s a photo negative makes me consider the chemical processes at play, the specific film used, Ansco Safety Film, actually. What decisions were made in the darkroom? Editor: It feels deeply personal. I can't help but imagine the family dynamics. Were they proud? Anxious? It's a baby on the cusp of a new life stage, captured but also somehow distant. Curator: Exactly. It speaks volumes, even as a relatively small 8x10 cm image, about the ritual of portraiture and the materials that constitute family memory. Editor: In the end, it’s a poignant reminder of how fleeting moments can be immortalized, albeit through this rather unique lens.