Untitled (man at desk with busts) 1958

Curator: This photograph, currently titled "Untitled (man at desk with busts)," was created by Peter James Studio. It's a silver gelatin print, measuring about 4 by 5 inches and is part of the Harvard Art Museums collection. Editor: The inverted tones create such a ghostly effect. It looks like the man is communing with his ancestors, or maybe just overwhelmed by the weight of history, judging by those busts looming behind him. Curator: Well, portraits and busts were often used to convey authority and legacy, reflecting the subject's place in society. I wonder what this man's connection to these figures is. Editor: Maybe they're his muses? Or maybe he's just trying to finish his taxes with the pressure of dead philosophers staring him down. It's a wonderfully awkward, revealing moment. Curator: It makes you consider how we build our personal narratives through material culture. Editor: Exactly. It makes you think about your own space and the silent conversations you have with the objects around you.