Untitled (portrait of woman wearing crown with long feather standing on stairs with dress train running down it) 1937

Curator: Here we have an untitled photograph by Martin Schweig, currently held in the Harvard Art Museums. It portrays a woman in a gown, posed on a staircase. Editor: Striking! The dramatic train of the dress and the imposing staircase create a sense of theatricality, almost staged. Curator: The crown and feather certainly contribute to that regal, almost allegorical, quality. The woman is elevated, both literally on the stairs and symbolically through her attire. It's as if she embodies some sort of virtue or ideal. Editor: The monochrome palette emphasizes the contrast in textures and the way light falls across the scene. The patterned wallpaper, the smooth dress, the solid banister all play against each other beautifully. Curator: Perhaps Schweig was interested in exploring how these familiar symbols of status and femininity communicate power. Editor: Yes, seeing the image this way allows me to appreciate the artistry that would otherwise go unnoticed.