Untitled (two men shaking hands at podium) 1948

Editor: Here we have an Untitled silver gelatin print by Peter James Studio, showing two men shaking hands at a podium. The setting appears formal. What aspects of this photograph stand out to you? Curator: I'm drawn to the means of production. The gelatin silver print, itself a product of specific chemical and labor processes, captures a moment likely orchestrated for public consumption. Consider the podium, the American flag. Editor: So, the image is less about the handshake and more about its intended audience and how it was made? Curator: Precisely. The materiality of the photograph is as significant as the event it depicts, shaping its meaning and purpose. Editor: That gives me a new way to look at the photograph, considering the production and context together.