Untitled (children around table at birthday party) c. 1960

Curator: This intriguing gelatin silver print, credited to John Howell, captures a children's birthday party. The dimensions are relatively small, roughly 4 by 5 inches. Editor: It's eerie, almost ghostly, the inverted tones give it a haunting quality. The table groans under the weight of cups, and all those expectant faces! Curator: The image's power stems from its ambiguity. We don't know the social dynamics or context of this gathering, but the photographic process reveals the social structures that would’ve been in play when capturing children at play. Editor: It's more than a snapshot. You see the texture of the tablecloth, the way the light catches on the chandelier – the labor involved in setting this scene. It makes you consider the unseen hands. Curator: Precisely. It challenges us to consider the roles of children in our society. Their innocence, their expectations for celebratory gatherings. Editor: Makes you wonder whose birthday it was, and what the photograph meant to them later in life, if they even knew the photographer or cared about the social setting. Curator: Indeed, it is a lens through which we can consider broader themes of childhood and memory. Editor: A simple birthday party, but layers of materiality and forgotten labor leave a lasting impression.