Untitled (drum majorette, right leg raised to side) c. 1940

Curator: This striking photograph, currently held in the Harvard Art Museums, is titled "Untitled (drum majorette, right leg raised to side)" by John Deusing. Editor: The first thing that strikes me is the dynamism frozen in the negative space. It's all angular energy. Curator: Considering that the image is undated and Deusing's life dates are unknown, we might look to the cultural context of drum majorettes. Their rise coincided with the popularization of marching bands and spectacles of nationalistic pride. Editor: The composition itself feels like a study in contrasts. The severity of the pose against the airy, almost ethereal lighting. And consider the hat, perched so deliberately, a focal point drawing the eye upwards. Curator: Absolutely. Thinking about this image in relationship to gender roles, it evokes the complex performance of femininity on public display. Editor: It is a compelling photograph. The geometry of the pose really locks the viewer in. Curator: Indeed, it invites us to consider the interplay between individual expression and cultural expectations.