Untitled (portrait of woman standing in front of framed photograph) c. 1950

Curator: What strikes me first about this photo is how dreamlike and ethereal it feels, almost like a memory fading into light. Editor: This “Untitled (portrait of woman standing in front of framed photograph)” by John Howell certainly evokes a sense of nostalgia. But I think it also engages with representation, particularly of women within domestic spaces. Curator: Yes! There's a tenderness in how the woman is positioned in her home. It feels so personal, like she's sharing a part of herself with us. The reversal adds to the feeling. Editor: Exactly. It's about questioning the gaze and reclaiming a narrative. The negative image challenges our assumptions about visibility and power, pushing us to consider who gets to tell their stories and how. Curator: This photo feels like a whispered secret. Editor: I agree. It's an important statement on the power of images.