Untitled (bridal portrait, St. Louis, Missouri) c. 1920s

Editor: Here we have an untitled bridal portrait by Martin Schweig. It's a lovely silver gelatin print. The long, ornate veil really strikes me. What do you see in it? Curator: The veil and the bouquet are potent symbols, aren't they? The veil, traditionally signifying modesty and purity, but also obscuring, holding back. The bouquet, a burst of life, fertility, held protectively. Do you see a tension there? Editor: I do! It’s like she’s caught between tradition and new beginnings. Curator: Exactly! And Schweig captures that beautifully. Think about what those symbols mean, and how they play out differently today. Editor: It’s amazing how much meaning can be packed into one image. Curator: Indeed. And how those meanings evolve with time.