Untitled (studio portrait of woman in dark lacy dress with baby girl in long white dress) 1938

Curator: This photographic print by Martin Schweig captures a woman and child in a studio setting; its dimensions are modest, about 7 by 4 and 3/4 inches. The tonal range is striking. Editor: Yes, the stark contrasts between the dark lace dress of the mother and the bright white gown of the baby create an immediate visual tension. It is a study in dark and light. Curator: Consider the economic realities of commissioning such a portrait; the labor involved in creating the clothing, and the family's decision to document this moment. Editor: The composition is formally quite traditional, centering the subjects. The gaze of both, though directed slightly differently, involves the viewer. Curator: Exactly, this is a manufactured image, a constructed representation of family, class, and even gender roles, all presented through the lens and the printmaking process. Editor: I see it now, observing the stark tones, forms, and manufactured contrasts reveals how much it is trying to communicate. Curator: Right, the studio and the labor and the class presentation all come into view. Editor: The image lingers with me now, thanks to this closer look.