Untitled (portrait of young man) 1971

Editor: This is John Howell’s "Untitled (portrait of young man)," and it looks like a photographic negative. It has an eerie, almost ghostly feel to it. What are your initial thoughts when you see this work? Curator: It whispers to me of hidden selves, doesn't it? The inverted tones almost strip away the familiar, revealing a raw, vulnerable essence. Notice how the stark contrasts force you to confront the gaze. What secrets do you think that smile holds? Editor: I hadn’t thought about it that way. So, it’s about uncovering something deeper? Curator: Perhaps. Or perhaps it’s a mirror, reflecting our own shadows back at us. It’s a compelling image, whatever it is. Editor: Absolutely! I’ll definitely look at photographic negatives differently now.