Untitled (girls having makeup done) 1937

Editor: This photograph, "Untitled (girls having makeup done)" by Harris & Ewing, captures a rather intriguing scene. I’m struck by the composition, how everything is arranged in the frame. What stands out to you from a formalist point of view? Curator: The image presents a compelling study in contrasts. Note the interplay between light and shadow, particularly how it defines the subjects and their environment. The negative, especially, emphasizes tonal relationships. Do you see how the texture of the table contrasts with the smoothness of the faces? Editor: Yes, and the busyness of the table juxtaposed with the relative blankness of the walls. It seems like a very deliberate arrangement of forms. Curator: Indeed. The vertical lines of the window frame and the figures create a structured space, balanced by the horizontal plane of the table. The composition creates a tension between the artificiality of the scene and the structural elements present. Editor: So, you are drawn to the structural harmony and the visual language of the photograph itself, rather than any narrative elements? Curator: Precisely. The intrinsic qualities of the image provide a wealth of information to decode. Editor: I never thought about it that way! The structural elements really bring it to life.