Untitled (woman posed hand under chin, straw hat with feathers, ruffled shirt front) 1940

Editor: Here we have an untitled photograph by Harris & Ewing showing a woman in a straw hat. The negative image gives it an eerie feel. What do you see in this piece? Curator: I see a constructed image of femininity from the early 20th century. Consider the gaze; the woman is posed, almost mannequin-like, suggesting societal expectations of women, even in the private space of a portrait sitting. Does the hat empower her or confine her? Editor: That's interesting. I hadn't thought about it that way. It's unsettling to think about how women were viewed then. Curator: Exactly! And how photography, supposedly objective, could be used to reinforce those views. It makes you wonder how much has really changed, doesn't it? Editor: It really does. Thanks for opening my eyes to that.