Untitled (dead baby, religious statue and image) c. 1915

Editor: This is an untitled photograph by Durette Studio, showing a deceased infant surrounded by religious iconography. Its mood is… undeniably somber, casting a long shadow. How do you even begin to interpret something like this? Curator: It’s definitely a gut punch, isn't it? Looking at the religious objects, almost like a tiny shrine, I see a blend of grief and… well, hope, perhaps? There's a need to find meaning, to connect this tiny life with something bigger. It’s a physical manifestation of mourning. Does that resonate with you? Editor: Absolutely, it's a visceral response. The photograph is so stark, so unvarnished. It definitely opens up conversations about mortality and how different cultures process grief. Curator: Exactly! And maybe even about how we, as viewers, confront uncomfortable truths about life, death, and everything in between. Powerful, isn't it? Editor: Incredibly. It’s a lot to take in, but I appreciate how it forces you to confront these difficult topics head-on.