Untitled (Mary Washington College marching band) 1941

Curator: This is an untitled work by Hamblin Studio, depicting the Mary Washington College marching band. Editor: Immediately, I see the photograph's tonality—it's a negative image, giving it an eerie, otherworldly quality. The instruments seem almost like shields or tools. Curator: This work offers insight into the cultural role of women's colleges and marching bands in the mid-20th century. Notice how the photograph seems staged, mirroring the band's coordinated uniforms and formal arrangement. Editor: Right, the very means of production—photography—captured and reinforced these social structures. Think about the labor in creating those uniforms, the crafting of the instruments; so much is embedded here. Curator: Absolutely. It's a reflection of institutional pride and the performance of patriotism. It provides a glimpse into the past, and how groups sought to present themselves. Editor: Looking closer, I am reminded of how much work is involved in photography as a method, but also how even images can be deceptive. Curator: Indeed, a captured slice of history—or perhaps, a constructed one. Editor: A good reminder to keep digging.