Untitled (little girl posing as ballerina) 1949

Editor: This photograph, "Untitled (little girl posing as ballerina)" by Ken Whitmire Associates, shows a young girl in a dance costume. I'm curious about the setting and the purpose of this image. How would you interpret it? Curator: Consider the mass production of such images. The photographic process, the studio setting, and the availability of ballet costumes signify a shift in how childhood and aspiration were being commodified. What labor went into creating this image? Editor: So, you're thinking about the photographer's work and the accessibility of ballet as a consumer product? Curator: Precisely. And even the little girl's labor, how she is performing a role. Editor: I hadn't considered that aspect. It gives me a completely new perspective!