Untitled (female performer on stage) c. 1950

Editor: This is Peter James Studio’s “Untitled (female performer on stage),” a black and white photograph. It's quite small, almost like a snapshot. The contrast is striking. What can we learn from examining this photograph's materiality? Curator: The photographic process itself is crucial. Consider the chemicals, the paper, the darkroom labor. The artist's choice of Kodak safety film, subtly referenced at the bottom, speaks to the democratization of image making, but also the economic realities of the photography industry. It is important to consider who had access to these materials and what type of labor was involved in the artistic processes. Editor: That’s interesting, I hadn’t thought about the materials in that way before. Curator: Thinking about material processes can completely reshape how we perceive art history.