Untitled (girl and infant) c. 1920

Editor: This photograph, "Untitled (girl and infant)" by Martin Schweig, is really striking. I’m curious about the elaborate dresses they are wearing. What do you see in this piece? Curator: I see a carefully constructed image reflecting the social expectations of childhood and class. The elaborate, impractical dresses speak to a family that could afford such garments and the labor to maintain them. Editor: So, it’s not just about aesthetics, but also about the economic context of the time? Curator: Precisely. The very act of commissioning a photograph was an investment, illustrating a desire to preserve and present a specific image of familial prosperity and status. Editor: I hadn't considered the photographic process itself as a form of consumption. Thanks!