Untitled (group portrait of boys with priest) 1959

Curator: This photographic print by John Deusing at the Harvard Art Museums is titled "Untitled (group portrait of boys with priest)" and measures roughly 8 by 10 inches. Editor: At first glance, I am struck by the inverted tones, which lends an eerie quality to this organized gathering. Curator: Indeed, the image inverts our expectations. The composition itself seems to invoke ideas around power dynamics, with the priest centered and elevated within this group of younger figures. Editor: The stark contrast certainly manipulates the viewer's gaze, and the building's architectural details add an additional layer of geometric complexity. Curator: Right, and considering the socio-political power that the Catholic church once held, it raises questions about the role of religion within these young men's lives. Editor: Perhaps, but the careful arrangement of figures and the play of light suggest a deeper formal investigation, a structural assessment of space and tonality. Curator: I concede the formal complexity, but I remain drawn to the photograph's historical implications. Editor: A worthwhile point. On further consideration, I can see this work appealing to different viewers.