Untitled (five women sitting in living room) c. 1950

Editor:This is an intriguing black and white photograph, about 4 by 5 inches, by John Howell, titled "Untitled (five women sitting in living room)." I'm struck by the interior design, and the women's coordinated outfits. What can you tell me about it? Curator: The materiality of the photographic negative itself is key. Consider the economic conditions that made photography accessible, and how its reproducibility democratized portraiture, challenging traditional hierarchies of artistic representation. Editor: That’s interesting. So, less about who is pictured and more about the technology that allowed the picture to happen? Curator: Precisely! Think about the labor involved in producing the photograph, from the manufacturing of the film to the darkroom processes. How does this influence our understanding? Editor: I never would have thought about the materials and labour that went into it. Thank you!