Untitled (large group portrait of men and women) c. 1950

Curator: This gelatin silver print, 4 by 5 inches in size, is an untitled group portrait by C. Bennette Moore, and it is held at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: It feels rather spectral, doesn't it? Almost like a gathering of ghosts, all stark contrasts and eerie stillness. Curator: Precisely. Moore's composition, arranging figures in tight rows, emphasizes the geometric structure inherent in group portraiture, while the inverted tones accentuate the interplay of light and shadow. Editor: But the whiteness of their faces, the darkness of the background... It speaks to the complexities of race and representation, particularly in a time when photographic technology itself was being used to define and categorize people. Who are these people? What is their story? Curator: That, unfortunately, remains unknown. The aesthetic impact relies on its formal qualities—the stark contrast and rigid order create a captivating visual experience. Editor: Perhaps. But the lack of context only amplifies the social questions it raises for me. Curator: A stimulating intersection, nonetheless, of form and social speculation.