Untitled (portrait of a deceased man, "Daddy") 1945 - 1949

Curator: It's a stark image, isn't it? This is John Deusing's "Untitled (portrait of a deceased man, 'Daddy')". The dimensions are about 8 by 10 inches. What strikes you immediately? Editor: The sheen. The satin lining of the coffin—that's deliberate luxury, a constructed presentation for public consumption. The labor involved in producing such a textile contrasts sharply with the stillness of the figure. Curator: Absolutely, the presentation is key. It's an attempt to soften the stark reality, perhaps? I find myself wondering about the relationship, the "Daddy" embroidered on the lining... Editor: Embroidered, yes—more labor, more hands involved. It’s about how death becomes a commodity, how grief is performed through material objects. Curator: And the photograph itself becomes another layer of mediation, a permanent, reproducible object. It reframes the entire grieving process. Editor: Indeed. It makes me consider the industry of death—the economics of mourning. Curator: It is a potent reminder of the complex interplay between loss, memory, and the objects we create around them. Editor: A sober reminder of the tangible work behind even the most intangible emotions.