Untitled (Des Moines marching band, group portrait) c. 1940

Curator: What a striking image. This is an untitled portrait of the Des Moines marching band by John Deusing, part of the Harvard Art Museums collection. Editor: The rows of figures give it a wonderful sense of scale and depth, almost like a staged performance. The repetition and the uniformity of the costumes are so interesting. Curator: It definitely speaks to a certain kind of American civic pride. The marching band, with its precise formations, becomes a powerful symbol of community and belonging. Notice the flags and the text on the drums. Editor: And the materiality! I’m curious about the photographic process itself. The tones and the way the light interacts with the uniforms tell a story about the craft involved. Was it a mass-produced image or a commissioned portrait? Curator: I suspect this imagery resonated deeply. The band's success likely became a shared symbol of the city's ambition. Editor: It also shows how even a straightforward documentary image can reveal the layers of production behind such events. I appreciate its complexity.