Untitled (guests at anniversary party) c. 1960

Curator: This photograph, part of the Harvard Art Museums collection, is titled "Untitled (guests at anniversary party)" by John Howell. It's a modest 10 x 12 cm silver gelatin print. Editor: The first thing that strikes me is its slightly ghostly quality, like a faded memory. The high contrast makes it almost dreamlike. Curator: Yes, and look at the hats—miniature architectural statements balanced on their heads! Hats were such an important social signifier. Editor: Absolutely. The hats are like crowns, signifying status and perhaps a longing for something more, a connection to a past age of elegance and ritual. Curator: I love that idea! And it's interesting to consider how this image, seemingly a simple snapshot, can hold so much weight. Editor: It’s a portal, isn’t it? A reminder that even the most fleeting moments can become embedded with symbolic meaning, long after the party’s over. Curator: Exactly. It makes you wonder about the stories behind those smiling faces. Editor: Indeed. Perhaps a little magic lingers in every frame.