Untitled (two women in kitchen) 1949

Editor: This is an untitled photograph by Peter James Studio showing two women in a kitchen. Given the style, it seems to be mid-century. It is fascinating how much the kitchen setting speaks to the domestic labor usually invisibilized. What can you tell me about the material reality captured in this image? Curator: Considering the means of production, what sort of camera, film and printing process do you think were used to make this photograph? The clean lines and the organization within the kitchen suggest a post-war consumerism. Editor: Possibly a large format camera, given the detail? It makes me wonder, were they aware of being photographed, influencing their actions and the setup of the space? Curator: Precisely. This gets at the heart of the image, which seems to mediate labor with new materials. This in turn speaks to the social context of women and domesticity. Editor: I hadn't considered the conscious arrangement of the space, but it does add another layer of interpretation. Curator: Indeed, examining the materials and the space opens a rich dialogue about labor and design.