Untitled (parents and daughter on couch) 1944

Curator: This is an untitled photographic negative by John Deusing, depicting a family on a couch. Editor: It has a somewhat eerie feel, like a ghostly memory surfacing. The composition, however, appears carefully structured. Curator: Indeed. The arrangement of the figures, their placement on the couch, and the backdrop creates a sense of formal balance. The negative exposure adds a layer of abstraction. Editor: The presence of another picture hanging on the wall, with figures also, does it hint at the generational family portrait, that the family would like to emulate and memorialize. Curator: Perhaps. Or the contrast between the domestic scene and the formal portrait complicates notions of family and representation. Editor: I read it more as a commentary on societal roles. The traditional family unit, poised and presented for posterity. Curator: A valid point, given the medium and its potential for mass dissemination. Editor: Overall, this image, for all its seeming simplicity, offers much to consider. Curator: I agree. Deusing's work invites us to examine our own assumptions about family and photography.