Untitled (woman wearing crown standing before woman in robes during Masonic ceremony) 1951

Editor: This photograph by Martin Schweig depicts a Masonic ceremony. One woman wearing a crown stands before another in robes. There's a whole audience! What symbols are at play here? Curator: The crown speaks of authority, doesn't it? But whose? The robes and flowers add layers of meaning. We must ask: What cultural memories are being evoked? What archetypes are being presented, and to what end? Editor: So, you're saying it's more than just a record of an event? Curator: Precisely! It's an active participation in myth-making, using symbols to reinforce a particular worldview. A very interesting photograph indeed. Editor: It certainly gives me a lot to think about!