Untitled (Phyllis Moore Stoll and Eugenie Stoll sitting in lobby with Christmas tree) c. 1950

Curator: This photograph, currently titled "Untitled (Phyllis Moore Stoll and Eugenie Stoll sitting in lobby with Christmas tree)," is by C. Bennette Moore. It captures an intimate scene within what appears to be a well-appointed lobby. Editor: It's a surprisingly stark image, considering the festive subject matter. The inversion creates a ghostly atmosphere; that tree looks almost spectral. Curator: Indeed. Given the elaborate setting and the subjects' attire, it speaks to a certain class and social stratum. The Christmas tree, laden with ornaments, becomes a symbol of bourgeois celebration, viewed through a lens of careful curation. Editor: And the materiality of it all! Look at the plush textures, the embellished chairs, the sheen of the ornaments. It’s all carefully manufactured and maintained, a performance of opulence. It prompts me to consider the labor required to maintain such spaces, the hidden hands that make this scene possible. Curator: A valid point. It’s important to consider how these kinds of images reinforce or challenge existing social hierarchies. Editor: Absolutely. Reflecting on it now, what resonates is the quiet tension between the celebratory display and its potential for social commentary.